Departmental Public Expenditure

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department paid the  (a) Ministry of Justice and  (b) Scottish Executive for (i) accommodation, (ii) financial systems, (iii) personnel, (iv) ICT support and (v) other administrative services in the last 12 months.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office (SO) does not share any accommodation with either the Scottish Executive (SE) or the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The SO maintains its own separate set of books within the SE accounting system, at no additional cost. The SO does not directly employ staff—they are all secondees from other Government Departments, which invoice the SO for pay costs but administer personnel records for secondees themselves. The SO paid the SE £115,073 for ICT support for the last 12 months. No other administrative services were received from either SE or MoJ.

Aimhigher Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of students who attended Aimhigher courses, events or workshops subsequently enrolled in a university in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06;
	(2)  how many 16 to 18 year olds who attended Aimhigher courses subsequently enrolled in a university in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06;
	(3)  how the effectiveness of the Aimhigher programme in encouraging school students into higher education is measured;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Aimhigher programme.

David Lammy: Aimhigher is making a significant contribution towards raising the aspirations of young people towards university, and their pre-entry attainment levels. Over 50 per cent. of young people from all social backgrounds now aspire to university.
	It is not possible at a national level to identify young people entering university who previously participated in Aimhigher activities.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England has commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to work with partnerships on the collection of consistent and coherent local data so that the impact of the programme can better be assessed. We expect the results from a separate study of early Excellence Challenge participants into higher education to be available later in the spring. This will give us the first information to date on the impact of Aimhigher on entry to university.
	Evaluation of Aimhigher's predecessors showed, for example, that after just 18 months of the Excellence Challenge programme:
	pupils in schools with Excellence Challenge improved by 2.5 GCSE points compared to those in comparison schools;
	there was a significant improvement in the proportion of young people in Excellence Challenge schools attaining levels 4, 5 or 6 in the key stage 3 tests between 2001/02 and 2002/03: it is estimated that Excellence Challenge led to a 4.6 percentage point increase in Maths attainment at key stage 3; and
	aspirations to HE were 3.9 percentage points higher in Excellence Challenge schools than in non-Excellence Challenge schools.

Aimhigher Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many sixth form students attended Aimhigher courses, events or workshops in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06.

David Lammy: This information is not available at a national level. The report 'Aimhigher summer schools: Analysis of provision and participation in summer schools 2004-2008' (Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), 2009) says that, during the five years from 2003-04 to 2007-08, the Aimhigher summer school programme funded over 1,350 summer schools which helped 41,000 young people. nine out of 10 school participants in summer schools were from school years 10 and 11, with the remainder mainly drawn from school year 12.
	The Department is currently working with HEFCE to develop a new web based database that will record Aimhigher participants and activities, and this will be trialled shortly.

Aimhigher Programme

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what the budget for the Aimhigher programme was in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06;
	(2)  how much was spent on all programmes to encourage and widen participation in higher education in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06;
	(3)  what the advertising budget was for Aimhigher programmes in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06.

David Lammy: The budget for Aimhigher in the years 2005-06 to 2007-08 was as follows:
	
		
			   Aimhigher( 1)  budget  (£ million) 
			 2005-06 102 
			 2006-07 87 
			 2007-08 80 
			 (1) Aimhigher is funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Learning and Skills Council and the Department for Health. The budgets include funding for the Aimhigher Associates programme. 
		
	
	The amount spent on all programmes to encourage and widen participation in higher education in the years 2005-06 to 2007-08 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million to nearest whole number 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Aimhigher and predecessors(1,)( )(2) 102 87 80 
			 Student support(3) 1,411 1,634 1,962 
			 Widening participation allocation(4) 284 345 356 
			 University bursaries and outreach — 116 192 
			 Total 1,797 2,182 2,590 
			 (1) The unified Aimhigher programme was introduced in 2004. Predecessor programmes were Excellence Challenge, funded by the then Department for Education and Skills, and Partnerships for Progress ion, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Aimhigher is funded jointly by DIUS, HEFCE, the LSC and the Department for Health. (2) The figures include, annually, £47.9 million from the Department, and £29 million from HEFCE. (3) All student support figures are for English domiciled students. (4) These figures also include the allocations for improving the retention of non traditional students, and to widen access and improve provision for disabled students. 
		
	
	There is no specific budget for the advertising of Aimhigher programmes. The majority of the Aimhigher budget is allocated to Aimhigher partnerships of schools, colleges and universities. Partnerships draw up plans setting out their vision and strategic priorities, their strategic objectives for the year, including indicators of success and timescales, and their evaluation plans. Information on advertising is not collected nationally.

Building Colleges for the Future Programme

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much has been spent on each project under the Building Colleges for the Future programme in each year since its inception;
	(2)  how much has been spent on the Building Colleges for the Future programme in each region in each year since the programme's inception;
	(3)  how many Building Colleges for the Future projects which have cleared the application in detail stage  (a) have been completed and  (b) are under way.

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of expenditure incurred by further education and sixth form colleges on capital building projects  (a) in advance of the feasibility stage,  (b) between the feasibility stage and an approval in principle and  (c) between an approval in principle and an approval in detail since 1997;
	(2)  which colleges had received funding from the Learning and Skills Council in advance of an approval in principle for a capital building project at the latest date for which information is available.

Si�n Simon: Capital funding for further education colleges is administered by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). As the information requested pertains to records held by the Council, I have asked Geoffrey Russell, the acting LSC chief executive, to write to the hon. Members with the information requested. A copy of his letters will be placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental Bank Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 900W, on departmental bank services, what the monetary value is of his Department's contract with Deutsche Bank.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has not made any payments to date to Deutsche bank under their contract as Sales Arranger for the Student Loan Sales Programme.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent progress his Department has made towards the target of increasing its energy efficiency per square metre of its Estate by 15 per cent. by 2010, relative to 1999-2000 levels; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The Department's building services are provided through the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), who manage the buildings that DIUS occupies.
	DIUS was established in June of 2007. No baseline data exists for 1999-2000. As 2008-09 will be the first full year of reporting we cannot yet record improvements against a baseline. Therefore the 15 per cent. efficiency savings target is not applicable to DIUS. However DIUS is making improvements:
	 London
	Over the last 12 months the building management system has been enhanced with new control systems, upgraded time schedules and automated metering. This provides half-hourly energy readings to suppliers which enable savings to be made through improved customer monitoring. There is now also a scheduled quarterly boiler maintenance plan to optimise efficiencies.
	 Sheffield
	DCSF and DIUS are in the process of acquiring new accommodation in Sheffield. The existing building will be vacated before any improvements in energy efficiency could be realized. Energy efficiency will be a feature of the new accommodation project that the Departments are currently pursuing.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1095W, on departmental training, which Ministers attended  (a) foreign language lessons,  (b) the Cabinet Committees course,  (c) the European Union course and  (d) the media training course; in what foreign languages Ministers received lessons; and how much each of these courses cost.

Si�n Simon: Of the four courses referred to in my earlier answer the Cabinet Committee courses and European Union courses incurred no cost to the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills. The other two courses referred to in my earlier answer were foreign language lessons and media training. These cost 1,343 and 1,276 respectively.
	Identifying Ministers who undertake training would, or would be likely to, discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development.

Foreign Students: USA

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what changes have been made to the rules in respect of financial support for British students travelling to the US since the Prime Minister's article in  T he Wall Street Journal on 16 April 2008.

David Lammy: The Prime Minister said,
	I can give a commitment that British students who need financial support to pay the travel costs of taking up a term of study in the U.S. will receive that support.
	The provisions for eligible students travelling to the USA are as follows:
	A grant for travel is available to eligible students in respect of reasonable expenditure which they are obliged to incur in a qualifying quarter of their course, for the purpose of taking up a term of study at an overseas institution including one in the USA. A qualifying quarter is one in which the student is required to attend the overseas institution for at least half the length of the period covered by that quarter.
	The grant for travel meets the costs of:
	travel within and outside the UK in order to attend the university or college including airfares
	medical insurance for treatment provided outside the United Kingdom
	visas required to attend the overseas institution
	medical costs incurred to meet a mandatory condition of entry into a country (e.g. vaccination costs).
	Except for the first 295 of travel costs incurred, eligible students from households with incomes of up to 39,796 may be entitled to have all their reasonable travel related expenditure met by the grant for travel. Income over 39,796 is taken into account and reduces the amount of travel related expenditure that the grant will cover. Income is taken into account at the rate of 1 for each 9.27 over 39,796, subject to a maximum income contribution of 6,210.
	DIUS has responsibility for higher education in England only. The devolved Administrations have responsibility for it in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Further Education: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 55W, on capital investment (further education colleges), whether colleges which have not yet received approval will be required to redesign capital funding projects in order to receive funding.

Si�n Simon: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has already begun discussing options for prioritisation with the further education sector. Once the consultation is complete, the LSC will advise on options. Until that process is complete, it is not possible to say whether capital projects will be required to be redesigned. But the potential impact on college projects including the need for redesign will be considered fully when the LSC comes forward with proposals.

Innovation: Motor Vehicles

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what projects to develop more environmentally efficient private motor vehicles have been sponsored by his Department's Technology Strategy Board; and what progress has been made on those projects.

David Lammy: The technology strategy board's portfolio of collaborative R and D projects is comprised of DTI funded legacy projects that preceded its establishment as an executive body, and those funded under its low carbon vehicles innovation platform. The projects are typically of three year duration, and the following list includes the name of the lead consortium partner:
	 Legacy projects
	Enhanced Diesel Engine Lubrication Systems for Reduced C02 EmissionsFord Motor Company.
	2/4SIGHTDownsized 2 Stroke/4 Stroke switching engine for passenger carsRicardo.
	Energy Efficient Electric Urban TransportZytek Electric Vehicles.
	LIFECar-Morgan.
	Development of the rheo-diecasting process for lightweight automotive componentsInnoval.
	 Low carbon vehicle innovation p latform
	Axon 60: A structural carbon fibre car with plug-in hybrid option  Axon Automotive Ltd.
	Li-ion Batteries for Plug-In Hybrid Electric VehiclesFiFe Batteries Ltd.
	Engine optimisation for reduced parasitic lossesFord Motor Company Ltd.
	Commercial vehicle fuel and carbon reduction by the use of 'aerospace aero' devicesHatcher Components Limited.
	Flywheel Hybrid System for Premium VehiclesJaguar Cars Limited.
	Limo-GreenJaguar Cars Ltd.
	Lower Cost, Lightweight Vehicles by Increasing the Use of Post Consumer Aluminium ScrapJaguar Land Rover.
	Range Extended Electric Vehicle REHEVLand Rover.
	High torque density electric drive for commercial vehicles (HiTED)Magnomatics Ltd.
	2/4CAR 2/4-Stroke Switching Carbon Reduction VehicleRicardo UK Ltd.
	Lightweight lead Acid Battery for Low Carbon Vehicles (LAB-LCV)TWI Ltd.
	Adventurous R and D projects such as these have an element of uncertainty and risk by their very nature. Exploitation strategies, which are commercially confidential, setting out how the project consortium plans to exploit the results are a key component of the business case submitted to the technology strategy board and can include the development of new products or processes, the publication of results or the stimulation of further work.
	These strategies are re-visited during the course of the work and the technology strategy board have monitoring systems in place to encourage robust self-monitoring and to maximise exploitation during and beyond the project's life-time and to monitor the impact of projects at least five years after the end of the project.
	While the projects funded under the innovation platform are at a formative stage, a majority of the legacy projects such as those led by Zytek and Ford have already resulted in excellent technical outputs, while the Morgan LIFECar have been presented at the Geneva Motor Show and been featured extensively in the UK press and media. The technology strategy board will now work to ensure that where appropriate, technical advances are incorporated into the relevant company development plans.

Nuclear Engineering: Higher Education

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1902W, on engineering: higher education, for how many  (a) masters level and  (b) doctoral nuclear engineering course places commencing in 2009 is funding available.

David Lammy: Data at the level of detail requested by this question are not collected centrally. The following table sets out the overall numbers of chemical, process and energy engineering students at English higher education institutions over the last five years which would include nuclear engineering students. Data for 2009 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Academic year  Masters  Doctorates 
			 2003/04 935 605 
			 2004/05 865 645 
			 2005/06 870 630 
			 2006/07 920 665 
			 2007/08 725 865 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  2 Covers enrolments of all domiciles to both full-time and part-time courses.  3 Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of subject over the time series.   Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Vocational Guidance: Internet

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many unique visitors the website www.careersadvice.direct.gov.uk had in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2007.

Si�n Simon: The number of unique visitors to the website:
	http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk
	were  (a) 6.9 million in 2008; and  (b) 5.4 million in 2007. The URL for the website changed from:
	http://learndirect-advice.co.uk
	to:
	http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk
	in September, 2008.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the answer of 27 November 2008,  Official Report, column 666W, on departmental training, whether he has taken any personal training courses since that date.

Gordon Brown: No.

Ministers: Pay

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1137W, on Ministers: pay, how many Ministers have received severance pay in accordance with section 4 of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 and have been re-appointed to a Ministerial position  (a) subsequently in the same Parliament and  (b) in a subsequent Parliament.

Gordon Brown: Details of all Ministers since 1997 are contained in editions of the List of Ministerial Responsibilities, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House, and in the press notices of ministerial appointments issued by my Office.

National Security

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 3-4WS, on the National Security Forum, what assessment he made of the merits of obtaining expertise in civil nuclear security when selecting members of the National Security Forum.

Gordon Brown: The Forum members bring a breadth of experience and varied perspectives to the Government's thinking about national security. Where appropriate, Forum members will also be encouraged to call on selected experts outside Government for advice, support and specialist research.

Tourism

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on policy to provide support for the tourism industry.

Andy Burnham: We have held a number of discussions with ministerial colleagues, including a recent meeting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Employment Relations at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reformto discuss business support measures for the tourism industry, and with my hon. Friend the Minister for Borders and Immigration at the Home Office to review the effect of visa processes on inbound tourism.
	We will also be convening a joint meeting of ministerial colleagues shortly to discuss cross-cutting issues relevant to promoting the visitor economy.

Alcoholic Drinks: Licensing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many licensees have had their licence revoked for selling alcohol to an under-age person in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Statistical bulletins on licences to sell alcohol include the number of premises licences and club premises certificates revoked, but do not indicate the reason why. Licences and certificates may be revoked on review for one or more reasons relating to the four licensing objectives, including sales of alcohol to children.
	The first DCMS Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 reported there were 675 completed reviews between April 2006 and March 2007(1). Following which, 91 licences or certificates were suspended, 92 licences were revoked or club premises certificates withdrawn, and 52 Designated Premises Supervisors were removed (Premises Licences only). It is not known which of these suspensions, revocations, withdrawals or removals related to underage sales.
	The second statistical bulletin, covering the period between April 2007 and March 2008, reported there were 1,008 completed reviews for England and Wales(2). 396 of these completed reviews were carried out for reasons relating to the protection of children from harm (based on 91 per cent. of returns), but it is unknown if they relate to a one-off case of selling alcohol to children or the persistent selling of alcohol to children. The number of suspensions, revocations, withdrawals or removals following these completed reviews is unknown. However, following all completed reviews 167 licences or certificates were suspended, 155 licences were revoked or club premises certificates withdrawn and 102 designated premises supervisors were removed(3).
	Since 6 April 2007, in addition to actions following reviews, 18 premises licences were suspended by a court under Section 147B(1) of the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006) for the sale or supply of alcohol, following an offence of persistently selling to underage children.
	Prior to the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003, data on the number of alcohol licences revoked in England and Wales was collected by petty sessional division (magistrates court areas), on a triennial basis. Between July 2003 to June 2004, there were a total of 354 revocations of on and off-licences. Again, it is not known how many revocations related to underage sales.
	(1 )Based on returns from 85 per cent. of licensing authorities in England and Wales.
	(2 )Based on 97 per cent. of returns.
	(3 )Based on around 94 per cent. of returns.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1888W, on departmental training, which Ministers have attended the Action Learning Set course; and what the cost of the course was.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The cost of the course was 500.
	Identifying Ministers who undertake training would, or would be likely to, discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development.

Tourism: South West

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Torbay of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 461-2W, on tourism: South West, how much of the 3.5 million will have been provided to each regional development agency between 2008 and 2011;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1340-1W, on tourism: South West, how much of the 3.5 million funding was allocated to each regional development agency.

Barbara Follett: holding answers 18 and 23 March 2009
	Funding for regional development agencies (RDAs) is not ring-fenced for particular economic sectors, such as tourism. However, in each year since 2003-04, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has contributed 3.6 million to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's (DBERR's) Single Programme budget (the Single Pot) in respect of the tourism responsibilities of the eight RDAs outside London.
	The Single Pot, which will total approximately 2.2 billion, 2.2 billion and 2.1 billion in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively, is allocated among the RDAs by DBERR. DCMS's contribution will be 3.5 million, 3.4 million and 3.3 million in these years.

Tourism: Summertime

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received from the tourism industry on daylight saving.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 1 April 2009
	My Department has received representations on the merits of daylight saving from the Tourism Alliance, the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions and other members of the attractions sector. I discussed this issue at a meeting with the right hon. Member for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs (Mr. McFadden) at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and industry representatives on 8 November 2008.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 335-6W, on manpower: Equality and Human Rights Commission, how many staff who were paid  (a) between 50,000 and 100,000 and  (b) over 100,000 a year were employed by the (i) Disability Rights Commission, (ii) Equal Opportunities Commission and (iii) Commission for Racial Equality in their last full year of existence.

Maria Eagle: The total number of staff employed by each of the legacy commissions in their last full year of existence (2006-07) and who were  (a) paid between 50,000 and 100,00 and  (b) paid over 100,000 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   (a) paid between 50,000 and 100,000  (b) paid over 100,000 
			 (i) Disability Rights Commission 11 1 
			 (ii)Equal Opportunities Commission 7 1 
			 (iii) Commission for Racial Equality 13 1

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Manpower

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 335-6W, on manpower: Equality and Human Rights Commission, what the staffing costs are for each department of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Maria Eagle: The staff costs for 2008-09 by Directorate within the Equality and Human Rights Commission is shown as follows. This information is the best estimate available.
	
		
			   Total (000) 
			 Corporate Management 6,240 
			 Commissioners Office 1,238 
			 Communications 5,498 
			 Legal 3,612 
			 Strategy and Research 3,993 
			 Scotland 1,303 
			 Transition Team 464 
			 Wales 1,255 
			 Totals 23,603

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Pay

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 335-6W, on manpower: Equality and Human Rights Commission, how many staff of the Equality and Human Rights Commission are paid  (a) between 50,000 and 100,000 and  (b) over 100,000 a year.

Maria Eagle: As of 31 March 2009, the number of staff employees of the Equality and Human Rights Commission paid:
	 (a) between 50,000 and 100,000 was 28; and
	 (b) over 100,000 was three.

Afghanistan

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) troops in contact incidents and  (b) indirect fire events were recorded in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Iraq in each month of the last three years.

John Hutton: The Ministry of Defence is currently collating and validating the data needed to answer this question. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from John Hutton to Gerald Howarth:
	I am writing to provide you with the information promised in my holding reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding troops in contact incidents and indirect fire events in Iraq and Afghanistan (Official Record, 4 February 2009, column 1257W).
	The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency.
	 Afghanistan
	The numbers of troops in contact events, regardless of the instigator, involving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and insurgents in Helmand province as part of Task Force Helmand for each complete month from March 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data is available are shown below.
	
		
			   2006( 1)  2007( 1)  2008( 1)  20091 
			 January  60 70 180 
			 February  100 70 180 
			 March 10 140 80  
			 April 0 70 50  
			 May 0 120 60  
			 June 10 110 80  
			 July 120 130 110  
			 August 100 130 200  
			 September 100 130 180  
			 October 40 90 170  
			 November 40 110 200  
			 December 50 130 220  
			 (1 )Rounded to the nearest 10 
		
	
	The numbers of indirect fire events, regardless of the instigator, involving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and insurgents in Helmand province as part of Task Force Helmand for each complete month from March 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data is available are shown below.
	
		
			   2006( 1)  2007( 1)  2008( 1)  2009( 1) 
			 January  40 30 40 
			 February  50 30 40 
			 March 10 80 50  
			 April 0 40 30  
			 May 0 30 30  
			 June 10 30 40  
			 July 40 50 50  
			 August 70 50 60  
			 September 80 40 50  
			 October 20 60 20  
			 November 20 70 40  
			 December 30 70 60  
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest 10 
		
	
	ISAF forces operating in Helmand come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside Afghan Army and Police units. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult
	precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by ISAF.
	 Iraq
	The numbers of troops in contact events, regardless of the instigator, involving Multinational Forces and insurgents in Multi-National Division (South East) (MND (SE)) for each complete month from March 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data is available are shown below.
	
		
			   2006( 1)  2007( 1)  2008( 1)  2009( 1) 
			 January  110 10 0 
			 February  200 0 0 
			 March 20 140 0  
			 April 30 80 10  
			 May 20 120 0  
			 June 30 140 0  
			 July 50 130 0  
			 August 40 60 0  
			 September 50 10 0  
			 October 80 10 0  
			 November 100 0 0  
			 December 150 10 0  
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest 10 
		
	
	The numbers of indirect fire events, regardless of the instigator, involving Multinational Forces and insurgents in MND (SE) for each complete month from March 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data is available are shown below.
	
		
			   2006( 1)  2007( 1)  2008( 1)  2009( 1) 
			 January  10 30 0 
			 February  120 30 0 
			 March 20 90 30  
			 April 50 120 10  
			 May 40 180 0  
			 June 30 200 0  
			 July 60 230 10  
			 August 60 120 0  
			 September 60 10 0  
			 October 90 20 0  
			 November 70 10 0  
			 December 100 20 0 0 
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest 10 
		
	
	Multinational Forces operating in MND (SE) come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside the Iraqi Security Forces. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by Multinational Forces.
	All data shown above is data based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.
	I hope that the above information addresses your concerns on this matter.
	I will place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contacts between British and anti-coalition militia forces there have been in Helmand province in each roulement since June 2006.

John Hutton: The Ministry of Defence is currently collating and validating the data needed to answer this question. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete, and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from John Hutton to Liam Fox:
	I am writing to provide you with the information promised in my holding replies to your Parliamentary Questions regarding contacts between British forces and anti-coalition militia in Afghanistan (Official Report, 24 February 2009, column 520W).
	The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency.
	The numbers of troops in contact events, regardless of the instigator, involving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and insurgents in Helmand province as part of Task Force Helmand for each complete month from June 2006 to February 2009 for which verified data is available are provided in the table below.
	
		
			   2006( 1)  2007( 1)  2008( 1)  2009( 1) 
			 January  60 70 180 
			 February  100 70 180 
			 March  140 80  
			 April  70 50  
			 May  120 60  
			 June 10 110 80  
			 July 120 130 110  
			 August 100 130 200  
			 September 100 130 180  
			 October 40 90 170  
			 November 40 110 200  
			 December 50 130 220  
			 (1 )Rounded to the nearest 10 
		
	
	ISAF forces operating in Helmand come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside Afghan Army and Police units. Without undertaking a detailed assessment of each engagement, it is not possible precisely to define in every case whether an attack was aimed at UK forces, at our ISAF partners, or against Afghan units. Data is therefore collected on the number of incidents involving ISAF forces in Helmand without attempting to identify the nationality of the forces actually being attacked. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by ISAF.
	This data is based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast- moving multinational operational environment.
	I hope that the above information addresses your concerns on this matter.
	I will place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military engagements there have been between UK armed forces and Taliban insurgents in the last two months

John Hutton: The Ministry of Defence is currently collating and validating the data needed to answer this question. I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
	 Substantive answer from John Hutton to Michael Ancram:
	I am writing to provide you with the information promised in my holding reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding military engagements between UK armed forces and the Taleban (Official Record, 23 March 2009, Column 10W).
	The Ministry of Defence has recently completed a review of the data required to answer this question, and has revised the manner in which we classify and present data to ensure consistency.
	The number of engagements, regardless of the instigator, involving the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and insurgents in Helmand province as part of Task Force Helmand, for the last two complete months for which verified data is available are provided below.
	January 2009(1)210
	February 2009(1)200
	(1)( )Rounded to the nearest 10
	ISAF forces operating in Helmand come from a number of different nations, which often operate closely alongside each other and alongside Afghan Army and Police units. Without undertaking a detailed assessment of each engagement, it is not possible precisely to define in every case whether an attack was aimed at UK forces, at our ISAF partners, or against Afghan units. Data is therefore collected on the number of incidents involving ISAF forces in Helmand without attempting to identify the nationality of the forces actually being attacked. The environment in which forces are operating makes it extremely difficult precisely to distinguish between incidents initiated by insurgent forces and those initiated by ISAF.
	This data is based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate, not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment.
	I hope that the above information addresses your concerns on this matter.
	I will place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of UK service personnel deployed in Afghanistan are engaged in tackling heroin production.

John Hutton: UK troops, as part of International Security Assistance Force, support Afghan security forces to target narcotic traffickers and facilities that are supporting the insurgency. UK forces have also provided support to both the Poppy Eradication Force and the Governor-Led Eradication plan within Helmand province. The number of UK troops engaged in such activities varies both on a day-to-day basis and also by season.

Armed Forces Pay Review Body

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 53W, on Armed Forces Pay Review Body, from which budgets he plans to allocate the funding for that component of the pay award which is in excess of his Department's planning assumptions of 2.5 per cent. referred to at paragraph 2.13 of the 2009 Report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

John Hutton: The MOD's planning assumption included a 2.5 per cent. pay bill increase in 2009-10; 2 per cent. for the core pay settlement and 0.5 per cent. for targeted measures. The Armed Forces Pay Review Body's recommendations, which were accepted in full, provide for a 2.8 per cent. core pay settlement and 0.5 per cent. for targeted measures, bringing the total award to 3.3 per cent. Provision for the additional 0.8 per cent. above the planning assumption, which equates to some 65 million, has been generated from within the Defence programme as a whole during the current planning round.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 563-64W, on armed forces: housing, how many service family accommodation units are maintained by Modern Housing Solutions in each  (a) region and  (b) area.

Kevan Jones: Modern Housing Solutions (MHS) as at 31 March 2009 were responsible for the repair and maintenance of service family accommodation (SFA) properties in the following locations.
	
		
			  MHS Region  Area  Number of SFA 
			 East Brampton 763 
			  Chicksands 852 
			  Colchester 1,024 
			  Coltishall 42 
			  Cottesmore 1,488 
			  Marham 898 
			  Thetford 512 
			  Wattisham 798 
			 East total  6,377 
			 Central Abingdon 1,494 
			  Brize Norton 1,067 
			  Bushey 1,055 
			  High Wycombe 1,301 
			  Kingston 1,374 
			  Uxbridge 806 
			  Woolwich 338 
			 Central total  7,435 
			
			 North Boulmer 213 
			  Catterick 2,212 
			  Waddington 1,649 
			  York 1,307 
			 North total  5,381 
			
			 South East Aldershot 3,773 
			  Arborfield 1,390 
			  Brompton 689 
			  Folkestone 733 
			  Gosport 1,827 
			  Portsmouth 1,210 
			 South East total  9,622 
			
			 South West Bovington 1,105 
			  Colerne 370 
			  Helston 571 
			  Larkhill 4,212 
			  Lympstone 629 
			  Lyneham 1,241 
			  Plymouth 1,175 
			  Warminster 989 
			 South West total  10,292 
			 West Chester 403 
			  Haverfordwest 194 
			  Hereford 646 
			  St. Athan 708 
			  Telford 1,561 
			  Weeton 349 
			 West total  3,861

Defence: International Co-operation

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Devon of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 426, on defence: international co-operation, what steps have been taken to increase interoperability between countries  (a) operating aircraft carriers and  (b) with naval vessels able to support carrier operations.

John Hutton: The Royal Navy regularly identifies opportunities at the tactical and operational level to increase interoperability with foreign navies.
	The European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII) draws together European nations with operational aircraft carriers or with naval vessels capable of supporting carrier operations. This initiative seeks to improve interoperability between European navies for national, NATO or EU-led operations. The inaugural Steering Group for ECGII met in Paris on 18 March 2009.
	The UK Carrier Strike Group Commander and his staff regularly liaise and train with the US Navy at both a tactical and operational level. The UK also has a Long Lead Skills programme with the US Navy, which is developing essential personnel skill-sets in advance of the arrival of Carrier Vehicular (Future).
	It is routine procedure for warships of close allies to integrate into each others Carrier Strike Group deployments, as demonstrated last year with the integration of the US, French and Spanish warships into the RN's Orion 08 deployment led by HMS Illustrious, and HMS Manchester's integration into the US Carrier Strike Group.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department plans to reply to the letter of 3 March 2009 from the hon. Member for Billericay and the hon. Member for Norwich North requesting a meeting on the subject of nuclear test veterans.

Kevan Jones: I met with the hon. Member and representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association on Monday 20 April 2009. My hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) was unable to attend.

Military Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 424W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, with whom the national contract for providing medium and heavy helicopter lift is placed.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 424W. The UK currently supplements the NATO ISAF Contracted Air Transport with a national contract through SkyLink Aviation.

Military Aircraft

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1366W, on Hercules aircraft, how many platforms were factored into the figure of 15,680 flying hours for the 2008-09 financial year.

Quentin Davies: The figure of 15,680 flying hours related to the period 1 April 2008 to 31 January 2009 and was achieved by a total of 23 Hercules C-130J aircraft.

Pakistan: Al Qaeda

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any official in his Department was given notice by any representative of  (a) the Pakistan government and  (b) the US administration of the US air strike on the village of Ali Khel on or before 22 November 2008.

John Hutton: The Ministry of Defence was not given notice by the Pakistani government or the US Administration of the reported air strike on Ali Khel on or before 22 November 2008.

Warships: Construction

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 647, on the warship construction programme, what the tonnage of the warship construction programme will be.

Quentin Davies: The approximate tonnage of each class of warship currently under construction, and their combined total, is provided in the table:
	
		
			  Class of vessel  Displacement per vessel (tonnes)  Planned number of vessels per class  Total tonnage of class 
			 Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers (CVF) 65,000 (full displacement) 2 130,000 
			 Type 45 Daring Class destroyers (1)8,100 (mid-mission, mid-life full displacement) 6 48,600 
			 Astute Class attack submarines 7,800 (full displacement when dived) (2)7 54,600 
			 Total tonnage   233,200 
			 (1) The Type 45 tonnage will change throughout the ship's life due largely to the adoption of an incremental capability approach. Mid-life, mid-mission tonnage has been chosen as a representative figure. (2) Our current plans are for a total class of seven boats. 
		
	
	The Future Surface Combatant and successor programmes also form part of the warship construction programme but are at an early phase in the design process, and decisions on final design have yet to be taken.

Warships: Construction

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Oral Answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 16, what the evidential basis was for his statement that the UK has the largest programme under way since the end of the First World War in respect of naval construction.

Quentin Davies: I specified in my statement that it related to peacetime construction. I made this statement on the basis of real terms expenditure.

Animal Feed: Imports

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of animal feed ingredients of each  (a) type of crop and  (b) country of origin was imported in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Table 1 shows the volume of animal feed ingredients imported into the UK from 2004 to 2008, split by type and exporting country, as recorded in the Official Trade Statistics. Table 1 excludes whole cereal grains, which are shown in Table 2.
	Table 2 shows estimates for the volume imported into the UK from 2003-04 to 2007-08 of whole cereal grain used in animal feedingstuffs. The Official Trade Statistics do not specifically distinguish whole cereal grain for animal feed from that for human consumption. However an estimate of imported cereal grain used for animal feed is derived and published as part of the UK Supply and Demand estimates on a crop year basis (July to June).
	This estimate is derived from total import figures from the Official Trade Statistics and survey data on use of cereal grain by various cereal processors. It is not possible to provide a country of origin/despatch breakdown.
	
		
			  Table 1 UK imports of animal feedingstuffs, 2004-08, by exporting country (country of despatch for EU and origin for Non-EUsee notes) 
			  T onnes 
			  Description  EU/Non EU  Country  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			  Cereal straw and husks EU Netherlands 124,980 76,852 71,717 5,563 386 
			   Irish Republic 18,953 18,068 17,833 15,187 12,189 
			   Other EU 2 9 100 80 22 
			  Non EU USA 5 5 3,701 22,125 38,303 
			   Other Non-EU 4 4 2,949 8,076 9,178 
			  Total  143,943 94,937 96,300 51,030 60,078 
			 
			  Lucerne meal and pellets EU Italy   2,684 21,519 19,744 
			   Netherlands 2,429 2,708 5,705 221 0 
			   France 2,092 2,457 2,065 2,226 2,206 
			   Irish Republic  354 460 5,918 2,376 
			   Other EU 1 56 26 1,728 2 
			  Non EU Canada 1,786 1,587 2,000 2,767 4,591 
			   Other Non-EU 87 81 95 129 152 
			  Total  6,394 7,242 13,033 34,507 29,071 
			 
			  Swedes, mangolds, vetches, fodder roots, forage kale and other forage crops EU France 8,329 8,080 7,801 10,187 4,366 
			   Belgium 3,153 3,090 1,331 390 859 
			   Germany 486 3,212 1,616 163 1,331 
			   Netherlands 207 202 2,673 1,822 1,094 
			   Irish Republic 80 1,013 814 2,016 477 
			   Spain 51  2,920 162  
			   Other EU 45 5 97 511 535 
			  Non EU USA 1,956 2,280 2,677 1,790 2,835 
			   Canada 385 307 95 1,239 608 
			   Other Non-EU 1,247 299 149 89 242 
			  Total  15,940 18,488 20,173 18,369 12,345 
			 
			  Vegetables residues and by-productsgrape marc, acorns, pomace etc. EU Netherlands 48,105 60,575 36,201 55,160 34,591 
			   Spain 30,169 13,629 25,499 8,530 8,089 
			   Other EU 13,713 21,303 12,342 20,205 19,304 
			  Non EU Brazil 147,004 204,978 105,391 162,646 86,323 
			   Argentina 16,734 24,683 45,225 109,235 293,770 
			   USA 163,574 67,432 48,541 36,347 122,355 
			   Other Non-EU 132 289 191 583 1,868 
			  Total  419,431 392,889 273,389 392,705 566,300 
			 
			  Brans, sharps and other residuesof Leguminous vegetables EU Irish Republic 207 241 194 146 186 
			   Belgium 94 69 97 99 175 
			   Portugal 167 71
			   Germany 35 23 24 3  
			   Other EU 19 0 20 0 5 
			  Non EU China 52 
			   Other Non-EU1 9 
			  Total  522 404 336 249 428 
			 
			  Brans, sharps and other residuesof Maize EU Irish Republic 8,667 8,599 12,333 8,317 2,806 
			   Netherlands  3,285 0   
			   Other EU 62 110 90 54 16 
			  Non EU USA  0  1 130 
			   Other Non-EU2 15 
			  Total  8,729 11,993 12,423 8,375 2,967 
			 
			  Brans, sharps and other residuesof Rice EU Germany 16 11 28   
			   Belgium 8 3 14   
			   France 1 24 0   
			   Other EU  6 3   
			  Non EU Egypt 22 22
			   China 4 3 18   
			   USA 6 6 4   
			   Other Non-EU  0 1   
			  Total  57 75 69   
			 
			  Brans, sharps and other residuesof Wheat EU Netherlands 48,003 47,891 55,614 54,323 63,470 
			   Irish Republic 11,557 14,332 13,299 19,442 12,687 
			   Germany 2 1,072 177 5,658 1,986 
			   France 5,236 2 884 208 73 
			   Other EU 9,628 1,466 2,071 1,081 5,234 
			  Non EU Australia 23 
			   Other Non-EU 10 15 0 5 4 
			  Total  74,436 64,778 72,045 80,718 83,477 
			 
			  Brans, sharps and other residuesof Other cereals EU Irish Republic 3,110 2,764 3,941 2,667 3,079 
			   Denmark  2,247  1,197  
			   Netherlands 1,172 0  1 21 
			   Other EU 228 16 143 71 46 
			  Non EU USA  0  7 20 
			   Other Non-EU 2   1 4 
			  Total  4,512 5,028 4,084 3,945 3,169 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Soya beans EU Netherlands 437,119 376,502 268,486 226,572 220,699 
			   Other EU 54,603 49,860 37,613 60,855 109,884 
			  Non EU Brazil 978,315 950,867 708,242 731,122 741,371 
			   Argentina 254,746 165,268 783,249 999,107 1,030,704 
			   USA 121 60,448 34 48,687 77,563 
			   Other Non-EU 50,842 56,653 36,426 23,546 34,809 
			  Total  1,775,745 1,659,598 1,834,051 2,089,888 2,215,029 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Groundnuts EU Netherlands23  
			   Other EU6 2 
			  Non EU Senegal 4,995 
			   Gambia 2,354 
			  Total  7,349   29 2 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Cotton seeds EU Irish Republic 873 883 634 6  
			   Netherlands165  
			  Non EU Brazil 12,504 
			   Benin 9,384 
			   Nigeria  3,652 987   
			   Other Non-EU 1,346  5   
			  Total  24,107 4,535 1,626 171  
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Linseed EU Belgium 265 1,484  131 744 
			   Irish Republic   139 411 343 
			   Germany 76 20
			   Other EU  0   56 
			  Non EU Argentina  1,085
			   Faroe Islands  652
			   China   190 228 100 
			   Canada 1 
			  Total  341 3,242 329 770 1,243 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Sunflower seeds EU Netherlands 117,650 78,118 76,599 51,245 43,041 
			   Portugal 43,661 27,515 18,404 12,866 24,724 
			   Latvia 6,146 5,242 18,137 40,070 39,170 
			   Lithuania  15,141  32,018 5,529 
			   Greece   5,869 8,882 20,154 
			   France 9,848 328  3,008 17,835 
			   Spain   5,586 3,031 10,748 
			   Other EU 14,812 9,557 4,057 16,196 7,857 
			  Non EU Argentina 127,988 137,531 171,985 95,673 158,535 
			   Russia 4,850 5,516 42,057 72,469 115,899 
			   Ukraine 18,182 24,836 49,760 63,444 12,638 
			   Uruguay  20,500
			   Other Non-EU 15,620   2,715 15,375 
			  Total  358,758 324,283 392,453 401,616 471,504 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Rape or Colza seeds EU Poland 23,627 67,478 47,005 67,772 79,200 
			   Belgium 21,157 27,401 28,698 56,813 56,890 
			   Netherlands 7,620 424 20,414 58,621 77,203 
			   Germany 23,213 36,993 18,994 18,788 24,709 
			   France 2,702 1,816 4,910 6,245 18,214 
			   Other EU 1,185 7,292 11,463 4,351 13,112 
			  Non EU South Africa  20
			   Other Non-EU  1   0 
			  Total  79,505 141,425 131,484 212,590 269,327 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Coconut or Copra EU Belgium  0 0   
			  Non EU Malaysia 5,021 
			   Jamaica 0 
			  Total  5,021 0 0  0 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof Palm nut or kernels EU Netherlands 34,397 41,872 19,928 10,679 2,222 
			   Other EU 3,266 5,899 13,447 3,823 1,181 
			  Non EU Malaysia 512,940 672,873 594,038 321,932 31,626 
			   Indonesia 191,395 143,151 264,293 260,404 413,875 
			   Other Non-EU 28,011 19,282 18,165 69,375 23,789 
			  Total  770,010 883,077 909,872 666,214 472,693 
			 
			  Oil cake and mealof other oil seeds and oleaginous plantsolives, sesame seed etc. EU Spain 96,578 135,535 11,230 132,160 144,461 
			   Denmark 1,093 20,805 12,045 31,377 13,724 
			   Greece  14,873 16,544 23,342 3,704 
			   Sweden  4,547 5,301  3,301 
			   Estonia  5,321 7,685   
			   Belgium 21 9,398 466 410 10,441 
			  Non EU Tunisia 3,470 11,387 7,931 26,315 45,111 
			   USA 1,199 1,145 1,125 1,181 19,940 
			   Other Non-EU 5,735 7 19,669 23 8 
			  Total  108,096 203,017 81,996 214,808 240,690 
			 
			  Flours, meals and pellets of meat or meat offal (including tankage); greavesunfit for human consumption EU Netherlands 27,599 4,210 3,293 2,139 1,292 
			   Germany 889 2,685 3,982 2,618 2,666 
			   Belgium 1,735 4,703 4,854 1,237  
			   Lithuania 93 10,585 0   
			   Spain 272 1,538 1,272 469 41 
			   Other EU 183 1,240 514 646 1,943 
			  Non EU New Zealand 1,125 941 607 598 302 
			   Australia 458 292  236 1,659 
			   Other Non-EU 50 151 13 78 54 
			  Total  32,404 26,344 14,534 8,022 7,956 
			  Flours, meals and pellets offish, crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebratesunfit for human consumption EU Denmark 24,701 16,093 25,168 12,884 21,983 
			   Germany 8,206 25,420 30,783 13,488 8,349 
			   Irish Republic 15,060 11,723 6,065 11,635 9,152 
			   Other EU 3,260 5,362 779 2,860 1,543 
			  Non EU Peru 19,434 23,201 37,623 21,156 24,610 
			   Iceland 42,513 33,346 13,608 3,778 10,337 
			   Faroe Islands 11,508 10,893 2,297 3,378 7,901 
			   Chile 6,514 12,639 10,923 5,072 199 
			   Norway 9,537 3,699 7,894 9,878 3,805 
			   Other Non-EU 1,743 4,343 4,288 3,540 3,137 
			  Total  142,476 146,720 139,426 87,670 91,017 
			 
			  Residues of starch manufacture EU Irish Republic 27,687 24,080 33,700 18,637 9,373 
			   France 18,578 7,848 21,648 22,777 39,189 
			   Netherlands 36,175 2,796 6,858 4,796 4,606 
			   Spain 1,343 4,664 31,693   
			   Other EU 5,156 877 2,578 2,776 12,880 
			  Non EU USA 20,503 37,376 67,457 10,456 9,019 
			   Other Non-EU 2 166 678 846 219 
			  Total  109,445 77,806 164,611 60,287 75,286 
			 
			  Residues of sugar manufacturebeet pulp, bagasse EU Netherlands 4,425 10,849 20,719 13,293 3,208 
			   Germany 1,797 5,672 11,908 12,299 12,599 
			   Irish Republic 5,196 6,050 5,583 8,438 8,483 
			   Spain 9,225 5,600 2,391   
			   France 0  8,023 4,130  
			   Belgium 1  6,227 2,290  
			   Italy 6,656 
			   Denmark   4,034 1,818  
			   Other EU 188 48 2,408 1,979 2,551 
			  Non EU USA 20,725   17,509 35,109 
			   Russia   2,350  6,548 
			   Canada 5,623 
			   Other Non-EU   91 264 2,905 
			  Total  48,213 28,220 63,735 62,021 77,027 
			 
			  Residues of brewing and distillingdregs and waste EU Irish Republic 11,551 12,974 13,269 15,308 15,187 
			   Netherlands 11,638 3,195  4,102 19,058 
			   France6,215 14,738 
			   Other EU 3,970 3,498 7,441 11,352 14,870 
			  Non EU USA 258,762 247,467 239,132 119,321 33,587 
			   Other Non-EU 14 19 11 2,901 14,242 
			  Total  285,935 267,154 259,853 159,199 111,682 
			 
			  Wine lees or Argol EU France   0  26 
			   Germany   0 1 3 
			  Non EU New Zealand0  
			   Japan0  
			   Singapore0  
			  Total0 1 29 
			 
			  Preparations of a kind used for animal food(excluding dog and cat food), not elsewhere stated EU Irish Republic 27,201 39,462 57,311 80,226 44,950 
			   Netherlands 27,578 16,632 83,868 77,312 38,884 
			   Germany 9,006 15,326 67,794 10,317 22,720 
			   Belgium 15,838 13,619 12,909 14,954 14,279 
			   Hungary 15,974 8,596 9,115 11,687 12,359 
			   Other EU 14,321 16,176 19,448 22,021 22,429 
			  Non EU USA 625,841 583,576 435,653 156,129 29,311 
			   Other Non-EU 7,094 9,487 8,731 5,041 5,145 
			  Total  742,854 702,875 694,828 377,687 190,075 
			  Notes: 1. Data prepared by Trade Statistics, Economics and Statistics Programme, DEFRA. 2. 2008 data is subject to amendments. 3. Figures showing as zero are less than 0.5 tonnes. 4. These figures exclude preparations for pet animals such as dog and cat food. 5. Exports from outside the EU which are shown in table 1 are based on the country of origin. This is the country where the goods were originally produced. Exports from the EU shown are based on the country of despatch. This is the country where the last commercial transaction of the goods took place and may be different from the country of origin. This distinction is an artefact of the different administrative recording systems by which the data is collected.  Source: H M Revenue and Customs 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Estimates of volume of imported whole cereal grain used in animal feedingstuffs 
			  Tonnes 
			   Crop year 
			  Cereal type  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Wheat 177,000 13,000 85,000 114,000 90,000 
			 Barley 60,000 73,000 55,000 106,000 92,000 
			 Maize 413,000 404,000 405,000 437,000 717,000 
			  Source: DEFRA, HNIRC

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel has been used by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies since its inception.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The annual energy consumption of buildings on the DEFRA and Executive Agency estate is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  kWh 
			  2007-08  Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  CHP h eat  CHP e lectricity  Solar  Total 
			 DEFRA 11,909,719 8,560,772 406,936 242,000 132,110 88,630 0 21,340,167 
			 AH (formerly SVS) 2,257,144 2,657,816 235,347 0 0 0 0 5,150,307 
			 MFA (formed 1 October 2005) 172,057 164,176 28,173 0 0 0 0 364,406 
			 RPA 8.044,716 5,495.993 367,759 0 0 0 0 13,908,468 
			 CEFAS 5,592,769 4,341,667 0 0 0 0 0 9,934,436 
			 CSL 19,366,330 25,820,972 9,630 0 0 0 0 45,196,932 
			 VLA 17,767,232 17,760,110 3,558,555 0 660,000 2,223,000 0 41,968,897 
			 Total 65,109,967 64,801,506 4,606,400 242,000 792,110 2,311,630 0 137,863,613 
		
	
	
		
			  kWh 
			  2006-07  Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  CHP heat  CHP electricity  Solar  Total 
			 DEFRA 12,876,317 10,140.841 1,148,301 0 0 0 0 24,165,459 
			 AH (formerly SVS) 2,233,637 2,131,606 236,273 0 0 0 0 4,601,516 
			 MFA (formed 1 October 2005) 145,643 153,681 49,400 0 0 0 0 348,724 
			 RPA 8,299,745 4,589,502 210,108 0 0 0 0 13,099,355 
			 CEFAS 5,398,601 3,884,647 0 0 0 0 0 9,283,248 
			 CSL 21,310,786 23,771,253 17,880 0 0 0 0 45,099,918 
			 VLA 15,576,608 24,039,096 2,290,760 0 7,497,000 8,004,000 0 57,407,464 
			 Total 65,841,337 66,710,626 n 3,952,721 0 7,497,000 8,004,000 0 154,005,683 
		
	
	
		
			  kWh 
			  2005-06  Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  CHP heat  CHP electricity  Solar  Total 
			 DEFRA 15,647,140 13,485,901 1,453,514 314,466 0 0 0 30,901,021 
			 MFA (formed 1 October 2005) 164,083 126,609 0 0 0 0 0 290,692 
			 SVS (formed  1 April 2005) 3,358,863 4,174,618 374,353 0 0 0 11,066 7,918,899 
			 RPA 8,556,851 5,865,659 310,182 0 0 0 0 14,732,692 
			 CEFAS 5,148,877 4,610,481 0 0 0 0 0 9,759,358 
			 CSL 13,701,553 20.049,704 28,927 0 0 0 0 33,780,184 
			 VLA 12,786,601 52,079,013 450,804 0 0 8,117,584 0 73,434,002 
			 Total 59,363,968 100,391,986 2,617,779 314,466 0 8,117,584 11,066 170,816,849 
		
	
	
		
			  kWh 
			  2004-05  Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  CHP heat  CHP electricity  Solar  Total 
			 DEFRA 17,273,446 15,291,837 1,210,893 1,088,370 0 0 44,188 34,908,734 
			 RPA 7,637,183 5,551,080 86.217 0 0 0 0 13,274,480 
			 CEFAS 5,152,393 4,339,638 0 0 0 0 0 9,492,031 
			 CSL 13,210,227 15,941,104 18,672 0 0 0 0 29,170,003 
			 VLA 10,162,812 25,276.043 750,009 0 3.780,804 7,770,416 0 47,740,084 
			 Total 53,436,061 66,399,702 2,065,791 1,088,370 3,780,804 7,770,416 44,188 134,585,332 
		
	
	
		
			  kWh 
			  200 3 -0 4  Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  CHP heat  CHP electricity  Solar  Total 
			 DEFRA 16,678,712 15,317.652. 1,505,047 1,327,300 0 0 60,884 34,889,595 
			 RPA 6,758,159 5,198,578 246,822 0 0 0 0 12,203,559 
			 CEFAS 5,080,351 5,090,179 0 0 0 0 0 10,170,530 
			 CSL 11,932,201 21,653,673 39,194 0 0 0 0 33,625,068 
			 VLA 10,905,900 27,377,755 560,548 0 3,815,345 7,872,958 0 50,532,506 
			 Total 51,355,323 74,637,837 2,351,611 1,327,300 3,815,345 7,872,958 60,884 141,421,258 
		
	
	
		
			  kWh 
			  2002 -0 3  Electricity  Gas  Oil  WDHS  CHP heat  CHP electricity  Solar  Total 
			 DEFRA 15,958,300 15,787,328 2,464,225 1,449,680 0 0 0 35,659,533 
			 BCMS 1,132,322 36,490 0 0 0 0 0 1,168,812 
			 RPA 7,427,798 5,982,422 359,324 0 0 0 0 13,769,544 
			 CEFAS 5,063,448 4,739,064 0 0 0 0 0 9,802,512 
			 CSL 12,205,053 21,393.760 0 0 0 0 0 33,598,813 
			 VLA 9,884,741 27,457,564 1,483,896 0 3.620.771 7.510,440 0 49,957,412 
			 Total 51,671,662 75,396,628 4,307,445 1,449,680 3,620,771 7,510,440 0 143,956,626 
			 WDHS: Whitehall District Heating System CHP: Combined Heat and Power.   Notes:   2005-06 1. CHP heat data for 2005-06 is missing. 2. Solar technology installed in 2003-04, system taken out of operation in 2006-07. 3. MFA data in 2005-06 are for the whole year, we are unable to split the data before and after the agency was formed.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the initial estimated  (a) cost and  (b) delivery date was of each ICT project initiated by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997; what the (i) outturn cost and (ii) completion date was of each such project subsequently completed; what estimate he has made of the (A) outturn cost and (B) completion date of each such project which is ongoing; which contractors were hired for each project; and how much has been paid to each contractor in respect of each project to date;
	(2)  when he plans to answer question 251380, tabled on 22 January 2009, on ICT projects; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not hold a current comprehensive list of ICT projects at the level of detail requested. This could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	However, DEFRA has provided some related information to previous questions. The hon. Member is referred to the following answers:
	(a) The hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 9 February 2005,  Official Report, column 1500W;
	(b) The hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 2 December 2005,  Official Report, column 869W;
	(c) The hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 6 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1276W; and
	(d) The hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 12 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1226-27W.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which ICT projects his Department and its predecessors initiated and abandoned before completion in each year since 1997; what costs were incurred in each project; who the contractors for each were; on what date each was  (a) commenced and  (b) abandoned; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he plans to answer question 251392, tabled on 22 January 2009, on ICT projects; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) does not hold a current comprehensive list of ICT projects at the level of detail requested. This could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the hon. Member is referred to the response my Department provided to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 17 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1516-17W. No further ICT projects and programmes have been cancelled since that response.

Departmental Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 332-4W, on redundancy, how many staff left his Department under staff exit schemes with a severance package worth  (a) between 100,000 and 125,000,  (b) between 125,001 and 150,000,  (c) between 150,001 and 200,000,  (d) between 200,001 and 250,000,  (e) between 250,001 and 500,000,  (f) between 500,001 and 1,000,000 and  (g) over 1,000,000 in each year since 2005-06.

Huw Irranca-Davies: As a result of structural changes to the Department and to meet cross-Government targets to reduce headcount within Departments DEFRA has managed the exit of a number of staff over recent years. The initial investment in reducing the headcount will lead to significantly reduced future pay costs on staff.
	These included both voluntary and involuntary leavers to whom payments were made. As is common to other Government Departments, the structures of these payments were based on the rules contained within the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
	For staff leaving on compulsory or flexible early severance terms, or in receipt of a statutory redundancy payment, the size of the package represents the lump sum compensation payment made.
	For staff leaving on compulsory, flexible or approved early retirement terms, the size of the package includes:
	any lump sum compensation payment made on departure (compulsory terms only);
	the capitalised cost of paying a pension or annual compensation payment (ACP) before pension age;
	the cost of any pension enhancement (compulsory and flexible terms only) and the cost of bringing forward the payment of the pension lump sum (for those in classic).
	These figures are therefore the initial provision for the early departure liabilities caused by the staff's departures and include any cash payments made during the period.
	Packages also include any payments made on an ex gratia basis.
	 Breakdown of figures
	The split of the 245 voluntary leavers and two involuntary leavers who had severance packages of over 100,000 in the last three financial years is:
	
		
			  Voluntary leavers 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Grand total 
			  Pay range  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER 
			 100,000-125,000 1 4 5 4 14 33 20 41 
			 125,001-150,000  4 3 8 4 21 7 33 
			 150,001-200,000  9 4 12 14 38 18 59 
			 200,001-250,000  7 2 5 5 14 7 26 
			 250,001-500,000 1 2 4 3 6 16 11 21 
			 500,001-1,000,000  11  2 
			  
			 Voluntary total 2 27 18 32 43 123 63 182 
		
	
	
		
			  Involuntary leavers 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Grand total 
			  Pay range  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER  S  ER 
			 100,000-125,000 1  1  
			 150,001-200,000  1  1 
			  
			 Involuntary total 1 1 1 1

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish the draft Floods and Water Bill.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We expect to publish the draft Bill in late spring 2009 for pre-legislative scrutiny and public consultation. The final Bill will then be available for introduction in a later parliamentary session.

Floods

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the electronic maps developed by the Environment Agency which identify those areas vulnerable to flash flooding from surface water.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 2 April 2009
	 The Environment Agency completed actions in response to the urgent recommendation from Sir Michael Pitt's interim report in August 2008 which stated
	'The Review recommends that the Environment Agency, supported by local authorities and water companies, should urgently identify areas at highest risk from surface water flooding where known, inform Local Resilience Forums and take steps to identify remaining high risk areas over the coming months'.
	The Environment Agency sent map data to Local Resilience Forums to help them plan their response to surface water flooding emergencies.
	The information on the maps is still under development and is for emergency planning purposes. The maps give an indication of the broad areas likely to be susceptible to surface water flooding based upon an extreme summer rainfall event with no drainage systems working. The information is not sufficiently accurate to use for individual properties. For example, it excludes the impact of buildings and kerb heights on surface water flows which at the local level can be significant. There will be properties at risk from surface water flooding that will not be included in the outline areas on the maps. The Environment Agency has not published the maps because of these uncertainties.
	The Environment Agency is committed to providing the public and businesses with accurate and meaningful information about surface water flood risk in conjunction with local authorities and water companies in the future. Work is ongoing to validate the model results against historic surface water flood events. The information will be published once there is confidence in the results.
	I have balanced the need to share surface water flood risk data with the public against the risks of publishing nationally un-validated data based on extreme scenarios for some types of surface water flooding. The public interest is best served by the current situation where Local Resilience Forums have information that will help them plan for emergencies and it is better to wait until more reliable data is available before publishing the Environment Agency's maps. In the meantime, members of the public can purchase maps on surface water flooding on the internet from at least one commercial company.

Floods: Essex

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1127W, on floods: Essex, 
	(1)  which of the schemes in the Essex catchment area which have received funding in the last 12 months for  (a) flood prevention and  (b) river maintenance are scheduled to (i) receive further funding over the next five years and (ii) how much funding each scheme will be allocated in each case;
	(2)  which river maintenance schemes in the Essex catchment area have received funding from his Department in the last 12 months; and how much was spent on each such scheme;
	(3)  which flood protection schemes in the Essex catchment area have received funding from his Department in the last 12 months; and how much was spent on each such scheme in that period.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 31 March 2009
	During the financial year 2008-09, the Environment Agency has spent the following on constructing new, and refurbishing existing flood defences in Essex:
	9.32 millionJaywick;
	0.65 millionCanvey Island;
	0.27 millionTilbury;
	0.16 milliondeveloping schemes for Brightlingsea and Great Wakering;
	2.62 millionon over 30 smaller tidal and river defence schemes.
	4.67 million has been spent during 2008-09 on the general maintenance of river and tidal defences in Essex by the Anglian Eastern Area of the Environment Agency. Work has been carried out across the county at many locations, covering routine maintenance and one-off repairs to defences and structures, and is not broken down into specific schemes.
	The following Capital Flood Defence schemes in the Essex Catchment have received funding during 2008-09 and will continue into the next five years. Based on our current plans, funding will be allocated to the following projects over the period 2009 to 2014 in the amounts indicated:
	2.8 millionBrightlingsea;
	11.2 millionGreat Wakering;
	0.7 millionHolland Sluice;
	0.3 millionThames Tidal Defences;
	0.8 millionTilbury Barrier;
	0.02 millionJaywick.
	In addition to the above, 4.27 million has been allocated to schemes for maintenance of river and tidal defences in 2009-10. Future years' maintenance is likely to be funded to a similar figure.
	 Source
	The Environment Agency's Capital Works database

Livestock: Disease Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered owing to irregularities with their passports in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 2 April 2009
	 The data required to provide the number of cattle slaughtered specifically because of irregularities with their passports in each of the last 10 years are not held in a form that is easily accessible. As the extraction and collation of this data would require a considerable amount of work and incur an unacceptable cost an answer cannot be provided. The data recorded monitor cattle slaughtered owing to the broader category of identification irregularities.

Livestock: Waste Disposal

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals of each species were disposed of through the National Fallen Stock Scheme in each year since the scheme came into force; and how much was received in payments in each case in each of those years.

Jane Kennedy: The National Fallen Stock Company which runs the National Fallen Stock Scheme does not hold the information by species in the format requested. With regard to the amount of payments, the latest information for the totals spent are as follows:
	
		
			   million 
			   By farmers  By Government 
			 November 2004 to March 2005 2.29 0.86 
			 April 2005 to March 2006 7.92 5.95 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 10.29 6.87 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 13.76 2.99 
			 April 2008 to November 2008 8.10 1.29

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to the email from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 30 January 2009, on farmers producing more food.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 March 2009
	I wrote to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on 2 April 2009.

Phytophthora Ramorum

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on tackling  (a) phytophthora ramorum and  (b) phytophthora kernoviae in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: In addition to DEFRA's general plant health programme which covers action against a wide range of plant pests and diseases (c. 10 million per annum), an additional 0.75 million was spent in 2008-09 for work to eradicate and control Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae in England and Wales. In this same period, The Forestry Commission spent approximately 0.05 million in combating these diseases in England and Wales.
	The Government recently announced the allocation of 25 million to support a five-year programme of work in England and Wales to manage and contain the risks of Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae, from spreading further.

Pigs: Animal Diseases

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of levels of post-weaning mortality in pigs in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Post-weaning mortality rate data for pigs is not collected by DEFRA. Production data such as post-weaning mortality rate is collected by the British Pig Executive (BPEX) and can be obtained directly from them.

Pigs: Animal Diseases

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the levels of wasting syndrome found in pigs in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The occurrence of endemic diseases in the GB pig population is monitored through diagnostic submissions made to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (England and Wales) and the Veterinary Surveillance Centres of the Scottish Agricultural College (Scotland). These results are reported in the Veterinary Investigation Surveillance Report and the quarterly Disease Surveillance reports produced by Veterinary Laboratories Agency for DEFRA. The data captured only represents results for samples/carcasses submitted to Veterinary Laboratories Agency or the Veterinary Surveillance Centres of the Scottish Agricultural College and does not represent the actual number of cases/outbreaks occurring in GB.
	Post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome' (PMWS) was first diagnosed in GB in mid-1999. The number of incidents of PMWS recorded by Veterinary Laboratories Agency and Veterinary Surveillance Centres of the Scottish Agricultural College (combined) between 2000-07 are as follows. An incident is defined as the first diagnosis in an outbreak.
	
		
			   Number of incidents 
			 2000 11 
			 2001 164 
			 2002 286 
			 2003 259 
			 2004 164 
			 2005 104 
			 2006 66 
			 2007 63 
			  Source: Veterinary Investigation Surveillance Report 2007.

Power Stations: EU Law

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1330W, on power stations: EC law, which existing power stations decided to  (a) operate within the emissions trading scheme under the National Emission Reduction Plan,  (b) comply with emission limit values and  (c) opt out by committing to limit their hours of operation.

Jane Kennedy: I am arranging for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.

Children: Maintenance

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much in child support payments remained uncollected by the Child Support Agency on the latest date for which figures are available.

Kitty Ussher: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cardiff Central (Jenny Willott) on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 21W.

Christmas Bonus

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of Christmas bonuses were paid in  (a) December 2008,  (b) January 2009 and  (c) February 2009; and how many and what proportion of such bonuses he expects to be paid in  (d) March and  (e) April 2009.

Rosie Winterton: The standard 10 Christmas bonus was paid as normal before Christmas to all those who qualified. Information on when the additional Christmas bonus was paid is in the table.
	
		
			  Actual and forecasted volumes for additional 60 payment 
			   Volume payments made/expected  to be made  Percentage of forecasted total 
			 December 2008 Nil Nil 
			 January 2009 12,216,750 79.63 
			 February 2009 1,433,420 9.34 
			 March 2009 1,692,590 11.03 
			 April 2009 Nil1 Nil 
			  Notes: 1. Exceptionally there may be some clerical payments. 2. All payments figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. The total volume of payments to be made is 15,342,751.  Source: Special Payment Programme Weekly Review document 4 March 2009

Council Tax Benefits

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the expenditure required from the public purse to alter personal allowances for council tax benefit to provide that in households where no individual is eligible to pay income tax receive full council tax benefit  (a) regardless of the amount of capital held and  (b) while maintaining the current capital limits; and if he will estimate the number of households which would pay a reduced rate of or no council tax as a result of such a change.

Kitty Ussher: The following table shows estimates of the cost and number of council tax benefit (CTB) beneficiaries of  (a) awarding full CTB where no individual is paying income tax, and regardless of any capital held  (b) awarding full CTB where no individual is paying income tax and capital held is within the current capital limits.
	
		
			  Full council tax benefit where no one in the household pays income tax 
			  Full CTB where no one pays income tax, depending on capital  Number of beneficiaries  Cost in annually managed expenditure ( million per year) 
			  No capital limit   
			 Working age 450,000 200 
			 Pensioners 510,000 270 
			 Total 950,000 470 
			
			  Capital under 16,000   
			 Working age 350,000 80 
			 Pensioners 460,000 200 
			 Total 800,000 290 
			  Notes:  1. All figures are for Great Britain.  2. Beneficiaries are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and costs are rounded to the nearest 10 million. These estimates include customers who gain and those who become entitlement to the benefit.  3. Each beneficiary represents a benefit unit, which can be a single claimant or a couple.  4. The impact is estimated using the Department's Policy Simulation Model for 2008-09, using data from the 2006-07 Family Resources Survey up-rated to 2008-09 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels, and is calibrated to latest published forecasts and policies.  5. Results are subject to sampling and reporting errors and estimation assumptions, and are therefore indicative only. No behavioural changes are assumed.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Jonathan R Shaw: Department of Work and Pensions Display Energy Certificates are in place in 375 buildings across England and Wales and in 45 buildings across Scotland. As disproportionate costs would be incurred to provide individual copies of the certificate and the accompanying advisory report, my officials are arranging for electronic copies of these documents to be prepared and placed in the Library.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn, Hatfield of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1636-38W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of the websites maintained by his Department received in each of the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: The tables outline the page impressions for each of the websites maintained by the Department for Work and Pensions.
	
		
			  Table A: Websites operated by the Department for Work and Pensions where the Department is responsible for the content 
			   Department for Work and Pensions  Jobcentre Plus  The Pension Service  Child Support Agency 
			 March 2008 4,438,340 250,206,608 2,885,226 653,089 
			 April 2008 4,890,895 279,358,470 n/a 693,879 
			 May 2008 4,632,534 250,206,608 n/a 623,741 
			 June 2008 5,467,135 290,661,873 n/a 710,818 
			 July 2008 5,481,316 302,481,658 2,792,047 703,331 
			 August 2008 4,823,111 271,781,484 2,545,342 669,090 
			 September 2008 5,255,207 308,875,532 2,815,695 753,074 
			 October 2008 5,840,085 302,104,417 2,954,131 770,977 
			 November 2008 5,675,631 266,874,017 3,155,462 721,481 
			 December 2008 4,578,694 179,521,943 2,159,900 550,725 
			 January 2009 7,693,486 350,647,463 3,820,139 901,912 
			 February 2009 6,311,548 298,532,534 3,137,296 741,673 
		
	
	
		
			   Directgov Carers  Directgov Disability  Directgov over 50s  Directgov Jobs and Skills Search 
			 March 2008 307,581 1,300,776 438,118 15,812,733 
			 April 2008 327,393 1,434,791 434,884 23,791,855 
			 May 2008 279,429 1,164,606 294,965 19,269,288 
			 June 2008 315,728 1,243,904 321,516 22,951,946 
			 July 2008 321,083 1,291,101 336,221 25,937,505 
			 August 2008 298,200 1,206,271 349,620 21,188,100 
			 September 2008 331,579 1,321,886 389,937 23,803,716 
			 October 2008 357,209 1,390,235 400,452 24,721,075 
			 November 2008 357,971 1,300,776 416,613 22,366,816 
			 December 2008 265,159 1,434,791 304,269 n/a 
			 January 2009 472,298 1,300,776 678,359 21,320,809 
			 February 2009  1,434,791 565,034 60,402,038 
		
	
	
		
			   Age Positive  Office for Disability Issues  European Social Fund  Health and Safety Executive 
			 March 2008 53,692 46,370 57,495 10,152,266 
			 April 2008 64,450 52,021 35,240 8,676,657 
			 May 2008 77,281 57,474 58,541 7,727,433 
			 June 2008 85,586 53,154 63,781 8,040,120 
			 July 2008 67,995 58,098 48,604 7,447,961! 
			 August 2008 49,610 48,873 51,520 6,349,379 
			 September 2008 47,653 n/a 57,699 8,300,273 
			 October 2008 35,517 51,951 54,395 9,440,699 
			 November 2008 33,739 49,760 62,070 8,543,091 
			 December 2008 28,350 57,367 44,399 6,165,509 
			 January 2009 35,569 57,772 53,056 8,199,968 
			 February 2009 35,529  50,377 8,174,915 
		
	
	
		
			   Now Let's Talk Money 
			 March 2008 8,942 
			 April 2008 54,134 
			 May 2008 57,875 
			 June 2008 70,747 
			 July 2008 72,566 
			 August 2008 74,288 
			 September 2008 50,868 
			 October 2008 53,651 
			 November 2008 47,490 
			 December 2008 42,658 
			 January 2009 39,042 
			 February 2009 37,122 
			 n/a = Not available 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Websites operated by the Department for Work and Pensions where the Department is not responsible for the content 
			   Independent Case Examiner  Industrial injuries Advisory Council  Social Security Advisory Council 
			 March 2008 22,636 18,915 17,399 
			 April 2008 24,112 18,911 18,403 
			 May 2008 24,328 19,293 20,187 
			 June 2008 24,046 18,202 18,561 
			 July 2008 25,047 18,395 18,166 
			 August 2008 26,334 18,488 18,631 
			 September 2008 20,945 16,534 17,356 
			 October 2008 20,229 16,764 17,036 
			 November 2008 23,312 18,587 45,590 
			 December 2008 29,862 17,903 18,453 
			 January 2009 29,862 19,055 19,755 
			 February 2009 23,345 17,811 17,807

Departmental Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of recipients of the Christmas bonus will get the additional 60 between  (a) 1 and 15 January,  (b) 16 and 31 January,  (c) 1 and 15 February,  (d) 16 and 28 February,  (e) 1 and 15 March and  (f) 16 and 31 March 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The answer is in the following table:
	
		
			  Actual and forecasted volumes for additional 60 payment 
			  2009  Volume payments to be made  Percentage of forecasted total 
			 1 to 15 January 12,175,120 81.94 
			 16 to 31 January 41,630 00.28 
			 1 to 15 February 49,390 00.33 
			 16 to 28 February 1,302,100 08.76 
			 1 to 15 March 1,289,700 08.69 
			 16 to 31 March (1)0 0 
			 (1) Exceptionally some payments may be issued clerically after  15 March 2009.   Notes:  1. All payment figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. As of 9 February 2009 DWP have issued 12,231,904 payments.  3. The total volume of payments forecast to be made is 14,857,929.   Source: Special Payment Programme weekly review document 11 February 2009.

Departmental Pay

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of recipients of the Christmas bonus received their additional 60 by the end of January; how many of the remaining payments he estimates will have been paid by  (a) the end of February and  (b) the end of March; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 26 February 2009
	The answer is in the following table.
	
		
			  Actual and forecasted volumes for additional 60 payment 
			   Volume payments to be made  Percentage of forecasted total 
			 1 January 2009 to 31 January 2009 12,216,750 79.63 
			 1 February 2009 to 28 February 2009 1,433,420 9.34 
			 1 March 2009 to  31 March 2009 (1)1,692,590 11.03 
			 (1) Some additional payments may be issued clerically during March 2009.  Notes: 1. All payment figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The total volume of payments to be made is 15,342,751.  Source: Special Payment Programme Weekly Review document 4 March 2009.

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 626W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate he has made of the annual salary cost of the new  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited in each year since 2005-06.

Jonathan R Shaw: The overall pay bill cost for permanent and temporary staff employed by the Department in each year from 2005-06 to 2007-08 is published in the departmental report 2008. We are unable to identify the costs of newly recruited staff or agency staff without incurring disproportionate cost.

Jobcentre Plus

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his contribution of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 176, on Woolworths, how many people made redundant from Woolworths as a result of its closure have found work through Jobcentre Plus.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 16 March 2009
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking, pursuant to his contribution of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 176 on Woolworths how many people made redundant from Woolworths as a result of its closure have found work through Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	We do not have comprehensive information on the numbers of people made redundant from Woolworths who have found work through Jobcentre Plus as we do not record job outcomes achieved for former employees of particular employers: to do so would be prohibitively expensive. We do however know that large numbers of people who worked in Woolworths have found new work with Jobcentre Plus' help. In the retail sector, the skills, experience and knowledge of former Woolworths' employees have proven attractive to new employers.
	Our support for Woolworths' staff began with deployment of our Rapid Response Service, which meant for example that staff in almost all of Woolworths' stores were offered support before they closed. We issued over 8,000 packs to enable people to make claims for benefit, and in many instances provided on-site advice on benefits. Our advice and support on jobsearch has also been available to Woolworths' employees, both in the run up to store closure and afterwards.

Jobcentre Plus

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the merits of reopening Jobcentre Plus branches in market towns more than 15 miles from the nearest branch.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking if he will consider the merits of reopening Jobcentre Plus branches in market towns more than 15 miles from the nearest branch. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus Customer Service Directors constantly review their service delivery plans to ensure optimum provision of service for all customers, for every Jobcentre Plus District. This is especially important in the context of the current economic conditions and welfare reform changes planned for the next two to three years.
	In addition to our network of modernised Jobcentres we make our services accessible to customers by providing a range of support through outreach, often delivering advisory and other support on partners' premises. That is important in locations where maintaining a Jobcentre could not be justified. Typically such services can be delivered in partnership with Children's Centres or on Local Authority premises or in conjunction with one of our Welfare to Work Providers.
	The great majority of our services (in common with most large, modern organisations) are now also delivered through the telephone and internet. For example, to give customers more convenient access, we have around half a million vacancies on-line at any time (our website receives close to one million job searches every working day), and new claims to benefit are predominantly taken by telephone with some taken on-line.
	For these reasons, we have no plans to reopen Jobcentre Plus offices in the way you suggest, but will continue to explore realistic ways of delivering services that meet the needs of our customers.

Jobseeker's Allowance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1995W, on jobseeker's allowance, how many claimants were paid UK contribution-based jobseeker's allowance by the Employment Service in each EU member state in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on such payments to claimants in each EU member state.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not available.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Cumbria

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of a jobseeker's allowance claim by a person registered as unemployed in  (a) Cumbria and  (b) Copeland constituency was in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  The median duration of Jobseeker's Allowance completed claims in the parliamentary constituency of Copeland and the County of Cumbria, for the last five years. 
			   Copeland  Cumbria 
			   Number  Median  Number  Median 
			 March 2004 - February 2005 (inclusive) 3,525 10.1 18,500 8.8 
			 March 2005 - February 2006 (inclusive) 2,990 10.7 16,795 9.0 
			 March 2006 - February 2007 (inclusive) 3,010 12.2 17,205 10.1 
			 March 2007 - February 2008 (inclusive) 3,180 10.5 17,470 9.3 
			 March 2008 - February 2009 (inclusive) 3,155 9.6 17,545 7.9 
			  Notes: 1. Data is published at www.nomisweb.co.uk 2. Completed claims are rounded to the nearest five 3. Median is measured in number of weeks 4. Median is a better measure of average than arithmetic mean for skewed distributions such as duration of claim.  Source:  DWP WPLS 100 percent data

Jobseeker's Allowance: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for how long on average an unemployed person resident in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) Hertfordshire claimed jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Median duration of Jobseeker's Allowance completed claims in Hemel Hempstead parliamentary constituency and Hertfordshire, for the last five years 
			   Hemel Hempstead  Hertfordshire 
			   Number  Median  Number  Median 
			 March 2004 to February 2005 3,355 9.1 29,460 8.3 
			 March 2005 to February 2006 3,305 9.6 28,255 9.1 
			 March 2006 to February 2007 3,540 10.4 30,190 10.0 
			 March 2007 to February 2008 3,910 10.0 31,145 9.4 
			 March 2008 to February 2009 3,735 7.5 32,105 7.1 
			  Notes: 1. Data is published at www.nomisweb.co.uk. 2. Completed claims are rounded to the nearest five. 3. Median is measured in number of weeks. 4. Median is a better measure of average than arithmetic mean for skewed distributions such as duration of claim.  Source: DWP WPLS 100 per cent. data

Members: Correspondence

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Independent Case Examiner plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Eastbourne of 6 August, 29 September, 21 October and 20 November 2008 and 16 February 2009 sent on behalf of his constituent, Mr. A Siegel; and when the Secretary of State expects the matter raised in the correspondence to be resolved.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Independent Case Examiner's office last wrote to the hon. Member on 9 December 2008 asking for further details of Mr. Siegel and his complaint, to enable them to provide an answer to the issues raised. They have no record of having received a reply. The Independent Case Examiner's office contacted the Member's constituency secretary on 31 March 2009 to request details of his letter of 16 February 2009. The Independent Case Examiner's office will write to the hon. Member separately to progress matters.

Pensioners: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners resident in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex have not yet received their Christmas bonus from his Department.

Rosie Winterton: By 15 March 2009, 15.3 million scheduled additional Christmas bonus payments of 60 had been paid to pensioners and other eligible recipients. It is possible that a small number of customers may not have received their payment therefore exceptionally, some payments may need to be made clerically.
	An exercise to identify the very small number of qualifying customers who have not yet received their payment is being undertaken.

Pensioners: Ex-servicemen

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter of response to the representations made in the report from the Royal British Legion and Age Concern on the situation of ex-service pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 26 March 2009
	 The director general of the Royal British Legion wrote to the Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform drawing attention to the Return to Rationing Campaign and the needs of ex-service and other pensioners. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State replied on 24 September 2008 a copy of the reply has been placed in the Library.
	We have since received a number of further representations in support of the Royal British Legion campaign and have replied in similar terms.

Self-Employed

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to support formerly self-employed persons without work;
	(2)  if he will adjust the criteria for claiming contribution-based jobseeker's allowance to enable formerly self-employed persons without work to claim the allowance.

Tony McNulty: The Government are doing everything it can to help those who become unemployed back into work as quickly as possible. We are investing an extra 1.3 billion to ensure that through Jobcentre Plus we can continue to provide personal help and advice to everyone who needs it.
	Income-based jobseeker's allowance is available to self-employed people who meet the eligibility criteria. The Department administers a wide range of benefits and allowances that are available to people on low incomes. Self-employed people who meet the qualifying criteria may be entitled to housing benefit, council tax benefit and help with NHS charges. Those working and on a low income may be entitled to working tax credit whilst those with children may be entitled to child tax credit.
	Class 2 national insurance contributions provide self-employed people with protection against ill-health, bereavement and old age by providing entitlement to employment and support allowance, bereavement benefits and basic state pension and the rate of contributions they pay reflects this. There are no plans to extend this entitlement to contributory jobseeker's allowance.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what scientific evidential basis has been used by his Department in its analysis of the use of voice risk analysis technology by benefit authorities; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment of the efficacy of the use of voice risk analysis technology by benefit authorities his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) commissioned from (i) independent bodies and (ii) service providing contractors; and what the (A) methodology and (B) conclusions of those assessments is;
	(3)  what disability impact assessment of the use of voice risk analysis technology in each pilot benefit authority his Department has  (a) undertaken and  (b) commissioned from (i) independent bodies and (ii) service providing contractors; and what the (A) methodology and (B) conclusions of those assessments are;
	(4)  what assessments of the use of voice risk analysis technology by benefit authorities have been published by his Department.

Tony McNulty: There is a body of published scientific research on voice risk analysis, but there is no published research on the efficacy of the technology when applied to benefit claims. The Department is therefore conducting its own research into the efficacy of voice risk analysis based on trials by local authorities and Jobcentre Plus. The Department's evaluation is being conducted by departmental statisticians who are bound by a National Code of Practice. The Department has not commissioned any independent bodies or service providing contractors to conduct an evaluation.
	The Department's assessment of its voice risk analysis trials during 2007-08 in Jobcentre Plus and local authorities, and details of its evaluation methodology, has been published. I refer the hon. Member to the  Official Report, column 19WS of the 11 March. Each local authority conducting trials of voice risk analysis technology is responsible for completing a disability impact assessment. This is a prerequisite to participation in the Department's trial.
	In accordance with departmental policy on carrying out equality impact assessments Jobcentre Plus conducted an initial screening on their voice risk analysis pilot. The pilot was restricted to assessing whether the technology could successfully identify the difference between high and low risk readings. As the pilot processes were specifically designed to test the voice risk analysis technology only and not its use as a new process or policy for implementation across Jobcentre Plus, it was concluded a full impact assessment was not required.
	The Department has not commissioned any independent bodies or service providing contractors to conduct a disability impact assessment.

Unemployed: Voluntary Work

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to encourage the long-term unemployed to engage in voluntary work.

Tony McNulty: There are already a number of flexibilities within jobseeker's allowance for claimants who are volunteers at any point during their claim. Jobseekers who do voluntary work do not have to attend a job interview or take up a job straight away. They are allowed 48 hours to attend a job interview and one week to take up a job offer. In addition any money they receive to cover expenses incurred while volunteering (for food, travel, etc.) does not affect their benefit entitlement.
	Our view is that that the benefit rules strike a proper balance between allowing benefit recipients to pursue voluntary activity while at the same time encouraging them to retain a clear focus on moving off welfare into paid work. Our recent White Paper, Raising Expectations and Increasing Support (Cm 7506, 10 December) set out our vision and route map for a welfare state where everyone is given the help they need to get back to work.

Unemployment

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of people who registered as jobseekers in the last six months who were under 40 years of age.

Tony McNulty: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants under 40 years of age in Great Britain 
			   Percentage 
			  2008  
			 September 66.2 
			 October 65.8 
			 November 65.3 
			 December 65.4 
			   
			  2009  
			 January 64.8 
			 February 65.2 
			  Notes:  1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.  2. Claimant count data is published at https://www.nomisweb.co.uk.  3. Figures exclude clerical cases.   Source:  100 per cent. count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus Computer Systems (computer held cases only).

Unemployment Benefits

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 94W, on unemployment benefits 
	(1)  whether his Department holds any elements of the information requested;
	(2)  for what reasons the information requested is not available.

Tony McNulty: Any such estimates could be collated only at disproportionate cost. This is because the Department holds records of people who have signed on but does not, and cannot, hold records of people who have not signed on, whatever their reason for not signing on may be.

Unemployment Benefits

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the application of the provisions of the national minimum wage to individuals whom it is proposed should work for their benefits under the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 2 April 2009
	 Participants in Work for Your Benefit will be undertaking work-experience as part of an employment programme designed to get them back into work. Individuals taking part in work placements on government programmes do so on the basis that such participation gives them work experience or training which adds value and which improves their employability.
	Existing Government policy for people participating in employment programmes is that a person who continues to receive financial support from the Government are not entitled to receive the national minimum wage while on a work placement. As such the national minimum wage will not apply in Work for Your Benefit.
	Discussions have taken place between BERR and DWP to ensure the Work for Your Benefit programme will be consistent with national minimum wage legislation.

Workstep

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many meetings his Ministers and officials have held with the Royal London Society for the Blind on the impact of changes for blind and partially-sighted employment support projects under the Workstep programme in London.

Jonathan R Shaw: Neither Ministers nor officials have held any meetings with the Royal London Society for the Blind concerning the WORKSTEP programme in London.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) under 10 years, (ii) 10 to 13 years, (iii) 14 to 17 years and (iv) 18 years and over were (A) arrested, (B) cautioned and (C) prosecuted for alcohol-related offences in (1) each region and (2) each constituency in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) under 10, (ii) 10 to 13, (iii) 14 to 17 and (iv) 18 years and over were convicted for alcohol-related offences in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The number of males and females cautioned, proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for alcohol related offences, by age group (the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10) and Government office region (GOR), from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is given in tables 1 and 2 respectively, which have been placed in the Library.
	The number of persons issued with a penalty notice for disorder (PND) for alcohol related offences from 2004 to 2007 by GOR, age group (data are available for persons aged 16 and over) and sex are given in table 3, which has been placed in the Library.
	The PND scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
	Data collected centrally at police force area level are not available by parliamentary constituency area.
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally. The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery.
	It is not possible to identify the individual circumstances of offences (such as whether they were alcohol related) from the data on arrests reported to the Home Office.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) women and  (b) men have been convicted of alcohol-related offences in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The number of men and women found guilty at all courts for alcohol related offences, by age group (the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10) and Government office region (GOR), from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is given in tables 1 and 2 respectively, which have been placed in the Library.
	Data relating to those persons cautioned and proceeded against using the same conditions, have also been included as part of tables 1 and 2.
	Data relating to the number of persons issued with a penalty notice for disorder (PND) for alcohol related offences from 2004 to 2007 by GOR, age group (data are available for persons aged 16 and over) and sex are given in table 3, which has been placed in the Library. The PND scheme was implemented in all 43 police force areas in England and Wales in 2004.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Ashford Borough Council

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants her Department has made to Ashford Borough Council in each year since 2005-06; what sums were awarded; under what budget category each grant was made; and how much was allocated for grants in 2009-10.

Phil Woolas: The Department has not made any grant payments directly to Ashford borough council, and there are no plans to do so.
	However, Ashford BC may have benefited indirectly under the Department's funding of Kent county council for the following grant streams:
	Basic Command Unit Fund
	Area Based Grants
	Drug Intervention Programme
	Safer Stronger Communities Fund

Asylum

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many files under the asylum legacy cases programme have been archived because the individual could not be traced within six months.

Phil Woolas: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has undertaken to update the Home Affairs Select Committee every six months on progress within the Case Resolution Directorate. She confirmed in her last update, on 8 December 2008, that the legacy cohort contains cases that the agency struggles to trace, including those where the applicant has died or left the country voluntarily. The agency makes every effort to trace such cases, checking a number of internal and external databases. If such tracing fails, the case is placed into a controlled archive. As of the end of November 2008 we reported that there were 1,850 cases in the controlled archive older than six months. This figure will be updated in the next letter to the Home Affairs Select Committee in the summer.

Asylum: Children

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take in response to the recommendation by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child that the UK should provide disaggregated statistical data on the number of children seeking asylum; and when she plans to take those steps.

Phil Woolas: Statistics on numbers of children seeking asylum are published on an annual basis in the Asylum Statistics United Kingdom bulletin.
	Information on the number of asylum applications and initial decisions broken down by age and the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children is available in this publication. Information on the number of persons held in detention solely under immigration act powers for those recorded as being under the age of 18 as at the last Saturday of the quarter are also available from the quarterly Control of Immigration Quarterly statistical bulletin.
	These publications are available in the Library of the House and from the Home Office research, development and statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Binyam Mohamed

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Binyam Mohamed applied for asylum on his arrival to the UK on 23 February 2009; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: It is the policy of successive Governments not to discuss the immigration status of individuals. However, as with any foreign national, consideration will be given as to whether their presence in the United Kingdom is conducive to the public good and, as always, all appropriate steps will be taken to protect national security.

Biometrics

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many IRIS pilot schemes were operational on 28 February 2009.

Phil Woolas: The IRIS scheme was operational at 10 locations on 28 February 2009.

Borders: Personal records

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the e-borders system will apply to the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Phil Woolas: The e-Borders system will not apply to the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
	We will continue to work closely with the Republic of Ireland to tackle the major issues that face us today, from trafficking and terrorism to illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
	The UK Border Agency, Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Garda National Immigration Bureau work collaboratively and run regular intelligence led operations to counter potential risks to the intra Common Travel Area (CTA) borders. These joint operations have successfully prevented foreign nationals attempting to cross the boundary illegally in both directions.

Borders: Personal Records

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to launch her Department's consultation on authority to carry under the e-Borders scheme.

Phil Woolas: The Government have committed to a full consultation period on the introduction of an Authority to Carry Scheme. This consultation period will be launched in due course following the completion of ongoing development work and initial discussions with stakeholders
	The introduction of an Authority to Carry Scheme will only be brought forward for parliamentary approval, once the full 12-week consultation period with all stakeholders has taken place.

British Nationality

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many citizenship ceremonies have been conducted in each region in England in the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The available data regarding persons attending a British citizenship ceremony for 2005, 2006 and 2007 by English government region are given in the following table. Data for 2008 are scheduled for publication in May 2009.
	Statistics on persons attending a British citizenship ceremony by region of the United Kingdom and authority are published in table 8 of the Home Office statistical bulletin Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom. This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office research, development and statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		
			  Persons attending a British citizenship ceremony by English  G overnment office region, 2005 - 07 
			   Ceremony  a ttended( 1, 2) 
			  English  G overnment office region  2005  2006  2007( 3) 
			 North East 1,310 1,420 1,705 
			 North West 6,120 6,345 6,770 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4,630 4,790 4,850 
			 East Midlands 4,635 4,625 4,925 
			 West Midlands 7,030 7,775 7,595 
			 East of England 7,000 6,715 7,975 
			 South East 12,030 12,145 14,640 
			 South West 2,985 2,810 3,875 
			 Greater London 63,045 56,995 61,690 
			 Total (England) 108,780 103,615 114,025 
			 (1 )A ceremony organised by county or local authorities for successful applicants over 18 years of age as the final stage in the process of attaining British citizenship. (2) Data are rounded to the nearest five so may not sum to the totals. (3) Provisional data.

Cannabis

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of cannabis seizures by  (a) number and  (b) weight or volume analysed by the Forensic Science Service contained significant quantities of cannabidiol in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: Cannabis seizures made by law enforcement agencies are usually submitted to the Forensic Science Service (FSS) Ltd. to provide only a confirmed identification and weight. Only a small proportion of cannabis seizures are further examined to determine the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, as a result of a customer request; customer requests for cannabidiol content are extremely unusual.
	The table sets out the number of records and total weight of herbal cannabis and cannabis resin examined in the last 10 years by FSS.
	Data derived from the Home Office Cannabis Potency Study 2008, shows that when measured, the cannabidiol content of herbal cannabis has consistently been found to be less than 0.1 per cent. The cannabidiol content of cannabis resin varied between 0.1 to 7.3 per cent., with a mean content of 3.5 per cent. In today's market, seizures of cannabis resin are comparatively rare compared to herbal cannabis.
	
		
			Herbal Cannabis  Cannabis Resin  Plant( 1) 
			 1999 Number of records(2) 4,499 5,433  
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 1,525.8 6,732.5  
			  
			 2000 Number of records 5,904 6,572  
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 972.9 6,618.6  
			  
			 2001 Number of records 6,429 5,591  
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 1,414.1 3,296.5  
			  
			 2002 Number of records 11,687 9,346 357 
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 2,278.4 5,126.5  
			  
			 2003 Number of records 11,139 7,100 1,410 
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 3,261.3 6,954.3  
			  
			 2004 Number of records 9,306 5,202 1,365 
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 1,267.2 3,638.2  
			  
			 2005 Number of records 9,899 4,463 2,927 
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 4,118.3 4,281.8  
			  
			 2006 Number of records 9,309 3,285 3,858 
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 1,568 3,576.6  
			  
			 2007 Number of records 10,250 2,459 5,466 
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 2,989 1,075.9  
			  
			 2008 Number of records 11,916 3,238 6,235 
			  Total weight submitted (kg) 2,659.8 11,615.9  
			 (1 )Prior to quarter three 2003 cannabis plants were mainly recorded as herbal cannabis. (2 )A record approximately equates to an individual item or exhibit. A seizure of cannabis or cannabis resin made by a law enforcement agency can consist of one item, a few items, several items or occasionally more.

Cannabis

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of cannabis seizures by  (a) number and  (b) weight or volume analysed by the Forensic Science Service had a tetrahydrocannabinol content of (a) less than three per cent., (b) four to six per cent., (c) seven to 10 per cent. and (d) 11 per cent. and over in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The Forensic Science Service (FSS) Ltd has provided data in the following table. Only data from 2001 is readily available. The company reports that it is asked to test for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content only in a small proportion of the seizures referred to them for analysis.
	Data on average THC levels of cannabis have previously been published in the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' Reviews of Cannabis up to the year 2007. Data for 2008 can be found in the Home Office Cannabis Potency Study 2008, published by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, using test data prepared by the FSS. Another source of reference for 2005 is D. J. Potter, P. Clark and Marc B. Brown, Potency of D9- THC and other Cannabinoids in Cannabis in England in 2005: Implications for Psychoactivity and Pharmocology, J. Forensic Sci., 53(1), 90-94, 2008.
	
		
			  Cannabis 
			THC range( 1) 
			  Seizure year( 2)  Data  =3 per cent.  4-6 per cent.  7-10 per cent.  10 per cent.  Total per cent. 
			 2001 Number of samples 2 11 13 19 45 
			 2002 Number of samples 13 14 19 37 83 
			 2003 Number of samples 22 21 33 88 164 
			 2004 Number of samples 12 13 25 113 163 
			 2005 Number of samples 10 8 33 178 229 
			 2006 Number of samples 9 36 94 176 315 
			 2007 Number of samples 21 71 120 137 349 
			 2008 Number of samples 15 39 70 203 327 
			 2009 Number of samples 1 3 11 34 49 
			 (1) THC = tetrahydrocannabinol (2) Data before 2001 are not readily available

Civil Servants: Incentives

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has allocated for staff bonuses in 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: For senior civil servants (the SCS) non-consolidated performance payments for 2008-09 have not been awarded yet as we are awaiting the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body, the independent body which makes recommendations to the Government about SCS pay.
	Under the current Home Office pay arrangements, up to 35per cent. of staff below the SCS may receive non-consolidated performance payments for 2008-09 at a cost of up to 3 million: but these payments have not yet been determined. Non-consolidated performance payments are made to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution throughout the year.
	There is also a scheme for awarding one-off non-consolidated special payments during the year. Up to 0.3 per cent. of the pay bill is allocated for this purpose. Special payments can be awarded for exceptional achievements by staff in particularly demanding tasks or situations at any time of the year.
	All such non-consolidated performance-related payments are funded within existing pay bill controls, have to be re-earned each year against predetermined performance standards and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs.

Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason she decided to cease future funding to the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners; what discussions she had on the matter with representatives of the National Policing Improvement Authority; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The original ministerial announcement of funding to the Council for the Regulation of Forensic Practitioners (CRFP) in 1999 was expressly subject to the CRFP's performance, particularly the condition that it became self-financing through registrant's fees and there should not be a long-term reliance on grant.
	By the time CRFP closed, this goal of a self-funding independent accreditation body had not been achieved and the company was facing a long-term shortfall of funding, because the registration income did not match the expenditureand would not have matched it, irrespective of whether the Government grant had been continued or not. This was likely to become considerably worse because of the withdrawal of support for the registration process by police forces.
	The grant was latterly provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency, who last year jointly commissioned with the CRFP an independent analysis of CRFP's finances. Following this, the CRFP's financial situation, as detailed above, was clear and further commitment of public money to CRFP would have amounted to a long-term
	commitment to funding the company without full public control, which would not have been a justifiable or sustainable approach. I, and ministerial colleagues, were kept fully briefed on this issue throughout.

Departmental Absenteeism

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of her Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate she has made of the (i) cost to her Department and (ii) number of working hours lost due to such absence; and what guidance her Department issued to staff in respect of absence on these days.

Phil Woolas: The disruption caused by the extreme weather conditions on 2 and 3 February this year caused severe difficulty for many Home Office staff travelling to and from work.
	As a result guidance was provided to line managers to remind them that they should consider sympathetically circumstances where staff were unable to report for work or have had to leave early due to severe travel disruption. This guidance reflected existing departmental arrangements on travel disruptions set out in the Staff Handbook. These arrangements provide for situations where staff experience unavoidable travel delays due to travel disruption or other exceptional circumstances which may mean they are either late for work or are unable to attend work. In these circumstances those staff that use the departmental flexi time system may be given a credit to compensate for travel delays. Depending on circumstances, other staff might not be required to make up time lost.
	It was left to managers to decide locally whether the provisions allowed for in the staff handbook should be applied in individual cases. Records of the number of staff who were not able to attend work on 2 and 3 February as a result of the disruption to the transport system were not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For the same reason it is also not possible to provide an estimate of the cost to the Department or the total number of working hours that were lost.

Departmental Data Protection

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to ensure the security of personal data held by her Department.

Phil Woolas: Good progress is being made on implementing the mandatory minimum measures set out in the data handling procedures in Government Report published in 2008 (a copy of which is in the House Library) following the review undertaken by Robert Hannigan. These and other mechanisms are being applied across the Home Office to reduce the risks to the security of personal and other sensitive information. These include:
	Establishing a board-level senior information risk owner for the Home Office, and counterparts in each of our agencies and non-departmental public bodies;
	Establishing an information assurance risk assessment and management process;
	Creating a register of all information assets, identifying owners for all those assets and training those owners in managing information handling risks;
	Carrying out training and raise awareness amongst all staff;
	Setting up a bureau to allow any restricted or personal data that need to be sent, or received from, beyond the secure network to be encrypted;
	Restricting the ability to write data to removable media to those that have a business need to do so;
	Replacing existing USB sticks with encrypted ones, where they are required; and
	Obtaining assurances from delivery partners that they will handle our data in line with the Hannigan requirements.

Departmental Detergents

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by her Department have been tested on animals.

Phil Woolas: My Department inclusive of its agencies does not generally contract directly for cleaning services, but procures them through wider Facilities Management (FMI) or operational service contractors. Typically contracts between my Department and FM suppliers stipulate that the suppliers should consider environmentally preferable products and materials. Our key suppliers have confirmed that their policy is only to use cleaning products or ingredients tested on animals if required to meet legal requirements.
	National and international regulatory bodies require that products, ingredients and chemicals are tested to ensure that they are not a danger to children, adults, household pets and the environment. Until reliable alternatives are developed, this means that procedures have to be performed using animals.

Departmental Manpower

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed in her Department's Department of Security Unit.

Phil Woolas: At the end of February 2009 there were 53.82 headcount full-time equivalent permanent paid civil servants working in the Home Office departmental security unit.

Departmental Procurement

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 259W, on departmental procurement, how much was paid to  (a) the Labour Party,  (b) Biometrix,  (c) Information Risk Management plc,  (d) Good Relations Ltd. and  (e) Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go in 2007-08; and for what purpose in each case.

Phil Woolas: Based on the purchase order data held in the Home Department's financial database, the details of the payments made to  (a) the Labour party,  (b) Biometix  (c) Information Risk Management plc,  (d) Good Relations Ltd. and  (e) Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go in 2007-08 are as follows:
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Supplier/organisation  Date  Description of purchase  Value () 
			 The Labour party 25 October 2007 Provision of Security at Annual Labour Conference 2006. This was a further payment in relation to costs that had not been submitted at the time of the initial conference 11,748.73 
			 
			 The Labour party 25 October 2007 Provision of security at Annual Labour Conference 2007 1,267,359.00 
		
	
	In accordance with section 170 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, the Home Office reimburses security costs incurred by political parties provided that this is accompanied by a letter from the Chief Officer of Police for the host area confirming that the security measures are justified.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Supplier/organisation  Date  Description of purchase  Value () 
			 Biometix 25 March 2008 Tool for analyzing Biometric data. Performix PC Desktop Licence with 12 months support 4,990.00 
			 
			 Information Risk Management plc 26 March 2008 To conduct an IT Healthcheck on security of Criminal Justice Xhibit portal. This involved internal and external penetration tests to assess vulnerability 14,080.00 
			 
			 Good Relations Ltd. 13 April 2007 Provision of weekly news summaries to the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) and Criminal Justice Technology (CJIT), now MOJ 46,978.00 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 18 June 2007 Working lunch 137.29 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 25 June 2007 Working lunch for external Swedish visitors attending meeting 77.87 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 23 July 2007 Working lunch for PSA/APACS event paid for by Police and Crime Standards Directorate (PCSD) 164.75 
			 
			 Marks and Spencer Lunch to Go 7 August 2008 Working lunch 331.20

Departmental Public Expenditure

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her latest estimate is of her Department's capital expenditure in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10,  (c) 2010-11 and  (d) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: As published in the Pre-Budget Report on 24 November 2008, the Home Office capital budget in 2008-9 is 0.9 billion, in 2009-10 0.8 billion, and in 2010-11 0.8 billion. The Government have not set Departments' Capital DEL budgets for years beyond 2010-11. Capital DEL budgets for 2011-12 and beyond are a matter for the next spending review. The Government do, however, publish projections for PSNI (Public Sector Net Investment) over the forecast period at Budgets and Pre-Budget Reports.

Departmental Stationery

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on  (a) branded and  (b) non-branded stationery in 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: From best available information, the total expenditure in FY 2008-09 by the Home Department for both  (a) branded stationery and  (b) non-branded stationery was 3,011,000.
	To separate stationery expenditure between  (a) branded and  (b) non- branded items would involve manually reprocessing source records and could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2243W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in her Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Phil Woolas: Ministers in the Home Office have taken the following personal training courses at public expense since 1 January 2008:
	Induction workshop
	Departmental leadership development
	Media training

Departmental Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 303W, on Departmental written questions, which are the nine questions referred to in the table as over 15 days late; what the reasons are for the time taken to respond in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The unique identification numbers (UIN) in respect of the nine questions referred to in my answer of 24 March are as follows:
	248332
	249216
	241568
	245482
	245483
	251937
	244798
	251292
	240954

Designated Public Places Orders

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Designated Public Place Orders have been introduced in each year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office has been informed that 707 Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO)s have been implemented throughout England and Wales. This figure is broken down by year as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 68 
			 2003 78 
			 2004 109 
			 2005 102 
			 2006 122 
			 2007 120 
			 2008 84 
			 2009 (1)21 
			 (1 )So far. 
		
	
	A full list of the council's which have implemented the orders can be accessed at the following internet link which includes commencement date:
	http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/alcoholorders/alcoholorders09.htm

Detainees: Offenders

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many foreign national former prisoners were held in the immigration detention estate on 12 January 2009;
	(2)  how many foreign national prisoners were being held in prisons awaiting deportation on 12 January 2009.

Phil Woolas: The Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly written to the Home Affairs Select Committee in order to provide them with all of the most robust and accurate information available. In her letter of 23 July 2008 she advised the Committee that there were around 1,650 foreign criminals who had completed their sentence and were detained under immigration powers pending deportation action. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House. She also recently advised the Public Accounts Select Committee during her appearance before them on 5 March that, of those who are detained pending deportation action, around 1,200 are held within the UK Border Agency detention estate.
	The information relating to the numbers of foreign national prisoners subject to deportation action who are either serving their sentence or are being detained under immigration powers in prisons is not centrally held. In order to obtain the information it would be necessary to examine individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Diplomatic Service: Firearms

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 663W, on the Diplomatic Service: security guards, how many requests to carry firearms whilst in Great Britain were received from each country in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Detailed records are not kept beyond three years, and for security reasons it would be inappropriate to disclose details of protection requests received and measures provided.

Entry Clearances

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for visas for entry into the UK were  (a) accepted and  (b) refused in each year since 2003.

Phil Woolas: The total number of (a) visa applications received (b) visas issued and (c) visas refused in each year from 2004-08 is shown in the following table. Reliable data for prior years is not held.
	
		
			   Applications  Issued  Refused 
			 2004 2,515,845 1,994,384 419,819 
			 2005 2,575,518 2,075,781 459,958 
			 2006 2,747,782 2,243,346 480,238 
			 2007 2,551,890 2,071,878 472,418 
			 2008 2,438,634 1,952,363 470,811

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means and on what dates the recent changes affecting the length of student visas issued under the points-based immigration system were communicated to  (a) universities,  (b) media organisations and  (c) others.

Phil Woolas: I agreed the change to the policy change on length of student visas under Tier 4 of the points based system on 24 February 2009. On the 25 February I confirmed these changes in writing to my right hon. Friend (Mr. Lammy) the Minster for High Education and Intellectual Property and to Baroness Warwick, chief executive of Universities UK.
	The principal consultative body with which we engage in the education sector is the Joint Education Taskforce. The taskforce includes universities, further education colleges and independent schools as well as members of the relevant bodies such as UUK, UKCISA, UCAS and many others. Those on the taskforce have agreed to cascade communications to their members and to publish any correspondence from the UK Border Agency on their websites as soon as reasonably practicable.
	We presented the policy change on length of student visas to the meeting of the Joint Education Taskforce on 26 February 2009. We also presented updates on the maintenance requirements under Tier 4. A letter was distributed to the taskforce on 27 February confirming the new arrangements and asking members to advise the sector of the changes and to draw attention to the newly-published draft policy guidance on Tier 4 on the UK Border Agency website. The publication of the draft guidance was highlighted by an accompanying news item on the UK Border Agency website.
	On 6 March, a further letter was sent to the taskforce to inform them that the guidance for Tier 4 migrants would be published on the UK Border Agency website after the Immigration Rules were laid in Parliament on 9 March, which they were asked to circulate to their members.
	On 10 March, I made a written ministerial statement introducing a statement of changes to the immigration rules (HC314) which was accompanied by an explanatory memorandum. A press release supported this announcement.
	Additionally, the final migrant policy guidance for Tier 4 and HC314 itself were published on the website with a supporting news article.
	On 31 March, Tier 4 came into effect. This was supported by a press release and updates to the UK Border Agency website on 31 March, as well as an article published on 2 April in  The Times Higher Education Supplement. These all referred to the change in length of leave under Tier 4.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Visitors

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of persons who had travelled to the UK on visitor visas who remained in the UK after the expiry of the visas in the latest period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Since the phasing out of embarkation controls in 1994 no Government has ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally, including those who have overstayed on their visa. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.
	As part of the Government's 10-point plan for delivery, by 2010 over 95 per cent. of non-EEA foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country, rising to 100 per cent. by 2014. This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, watch-list checks for all travellers before they arrive or depart from the UK and ID cards for foreign nationals.

Extradition: USA

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the Government has sought to extradite from the United States in each year since 2001; and how many people were extradited from the United States to the UK in each of those years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is in the following table. The data are normally used for management information only and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications. The data are provisional and may be subject to change.
	
		
			   UK extradition requests made to USA  Persons returned by USA to UK 
			 2001 4 3 
			 2002 9 3 
			 2003 5 2 
			 2004 2 4 
			 2005 7 1 
			 2006 4 4 
			 2007 16 7 
			 2008 8 10 
			  Note:  Scotland makes and (until 1 April 2008) Northern Ireland made its own extradition requests. Statistics for such cases are not included in this table.

Fingerprints: Databases

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions staff of the UK Border Agency accessed the Eurodac database in  (a) 2008 and  (b) each of the first three months of 2009.

Phil Woolas: The latest published data for the United Kingdom's transactions with the Eurodac database is for 2007 and can be found in the European Commission's Annual Report to the Council and the European Parliament on the activities of the Eurodac Central Unit. This report can be accessed at:
	http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?=COM:2009:0013:FIN:EN:PDF
	and a copy will be placed in the House Library.
	Information for 2008 and 2009 will be published in the annual reports for these years.

Foreign Workers: Fixed Penalties

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices have been issued to workers from  (a) Bulgaria and  (b) Romania for breach of the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006 since 1 January 2007.

Jacqui Smith: Between 1 January 2007 and 31 January 2009, a total of 99 fixed penalty notices for breach of the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations were issued to workers from Bulgaria, and 287 to workers from Romania.
	These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional and subject to change.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Human Trafficking

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what programmes her Department has developed to tackle the illegal trafficking of individuals; how much has been allocated to such programmes; and what organisations are responsible for executing them.

Phil Woolas: A programme of 85 cross Government actions are outlined in the United Kingdom's Action Plan which is updated annually with the responsible agencies listed against each action. Progress on all areas of work is overseen by the Inter Departmental Ministerial Group of which the my hon. Friend (Mr. Campbell) is Chair.
	Human trafficking is core police business and all forces should have the capacity to deal with trafficking problems in their area. This will be reinforced by the joint UK Human Trafficking Centre and National Policing Improvement Agency programme to embed human trafficking within mandatory police training courses throughout 2009. Training on human trafficking issues within the UK Border Agency is mandatory for all staff up to grade 7 level.
	The Serious Organised Crime Agency has tackling organised immigration crime as its second highest priority. SOCA co-ordinates two programmes of activity aimed at organised immigration crime, including human trafficking which are aimed at the reduction of such crime at source and key nexus points and to reduce the exploitation of migrants in the UK by organised criminal gangs.
	We shall fund the UKHTC to the tune of 4.5million for the current spending review period and SOCA receives an overall budget of 400 million.

Identity Cards: Interviews

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1093W, on the national identity register, in what type of cases may individuals be asked to attend an interview when they apply for registration on the National Identity Register or for a replacement card.

Phil Woolas: Whether an individual would be invited to attend an interview prior to registration on the National Identity Register will depend on the particular circumstances of the application but, as now with first time adult applicants for passports, it is likely that the Identity and Passport Service would need to interview an applicant where there is limited evidence of identity such as no previous passport history. An interview is one way of helping to establish identity.

Illegal Immigrants: Prosecutions

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 118W, on illegal immigrants: arrests, how many  (a) prosecutions and  (b) deportations were made following the 1,685 enforcement visits made to restaurants and takeaway food outlets in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency records details of the number of individuals arrested as suspected immigration offenders, details of prosecutions, and the details of those removed on three separate systems. In order to achieve the required level of data quality, the cross-referencing of data between the three systems could completed only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed and departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis, as well as statistics on persons proceeded against for offences under Immigration Acts in England and Wales annually. National Statistics on immigration and asylum are placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Immigrants: Fingerprints

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) records and  (b) data subjects there are on the Immigration and Asylum fingerprint database.

Phil Woolas: The number of records held on the Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint database for the week ending 28 March 2009 is 4.80 million.
	The number of data subjects there are on the Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint database for the week ending 28 March 2009 is 4.14 million

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department issues to entry clearance officers on the registration of the application date in respect of the points-based immigration system.

Phil Woolas: Guidance about the date of an entry clearance application is available in the points based system policy guidance, which is published on the UK Border Agency website.
	The current published version of the guidance says that the date an entry clearance application is made is
	the date that the fee associated with the application is paid and the applicant's biometric details taken.
	The UK Border Agency will shortly be publishing an amended version of the guidance which will say that the date of application is
	the date that the fee associated with the application is paid.

Immigration: Biometrics

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 915-6W, on biometrics: airports, how much her Department spent on iris technology systems in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2009 to date.

Phil Woolas: The costs incurred to the Department for the maintenance and support of Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS), are as follows:
	 (a) 2008: 568,100
	 (b) January to March 2009: 149,600.

Immobilisation of Vehicles

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her proposals for the future of the wheel-clamping industry will include changes to  (a) the regulation of wheel clamping companies,  (b) the maximum level of charges that clamping companies can impose on private land and  (c) the minimum standards for signage on private land; and when she plans to publish her proposals.

Phil Woolas: We will launch a formal consultation in late April considering how best to regulate the wheel-clamping industry. The Government's preferred option would be to introduce compulsory licensing for all wheel-clamping companies, to ensure they uphold standards of conduct, which will be enforced if they are not met.
	The details of the scheme will be decided after the public consultation, but are likely to include maximum penalties that can be charged and standards on signage, including size and visibility.

Independent Safeguarding Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 19 March 2009, on the Vetting and Barring Scheme, what the reason is for the period of time taken between implementing the provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 in October 2009 and the scheme becoming fully operational in July 2010; and what assessment she has made of the likely effects of this period on the operation of the scheme.

Jacqui Smith: The commencement of new applications under section 24 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 will take place in July 2010 to enable full implementation and testing of the new IT systems which are required to introduce the scheme effectively, including a contingency period. In the period from October 2009, the Independent Safeguarding Authority will be able to bar from the full range of regulated activities with children or vulnerable adults any cases referred to it in which it considers the individual referred to be unsuitable for such work.

Independent Safeguarding Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what electronic databases will be used by the Independent Safeguarding Authority to operate the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

Jacqui Smith: The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) will operate a database maintaining the lists of those barred from working with children or vulnerable adults in accordance with section 2 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. It will also operate two databases maintaining two lists of those who are ISA registered and able to work with children and vulnerable adults together with a casework management system.
	It will be provided with relevant information by the Criminal Records Bureau, which has access to information, recorded on the Police National Computer and other police systems.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 26 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr K Khan.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 24 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 6 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mrs A Sibal.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 6 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. S. Ali.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 25 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to her dated 4 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to S. Hashmi.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 6 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight of 24 July 2008, reference M14 547/8, on Gurkhas retired from the armed forces, in respect of which the hon. Member has written to her on 10 September, 1 October, 30 October and 17 December 2008 and 22 January 2009.

Phil Woolas: In September 2008, the High Court agreed that the 1997 cut-off date applied to retired Gurkhas was sound and not discriminatory. However, it did find that the policy guidance relating to the treatment of Gurkhas discharged before 1997 was not sufficiently clear and did not cover service-related factors. We are determined to get the revised guidance right to ensure that it is fair to all Gurkhas and this has involved consultation across Government.
	The revised guidance for Gurkhas who retired before July 1997 and who wish to seek settlement in the UK will be published by 24 April.
	We want to give Members the fullest possible information and we therefore plan to respond as soon as possible after that date with a full explanation of our revised guidance.

Members: Correspondence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 16 March 2009, on her constituent Mr. Joseph Kamangire.

Phil Woolas: The Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency, Jonathan Sedgwick, wrote to my hon. Friend on 2 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 9 February 2009 with regard to a constituent, reference POS(2)10644/0088; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply.

Phil Woolas: The letter referred to was received in the Home Office on 12 February 2009, and was transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions on 17 February. A letter advising the transfer was sent to the hon. Member's office, also on 17 February.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 17 February 2009, with regard to Mr. Safraz Muneer.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 6 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 16 February 2009, with regard to Mr. Mohammed Ayub.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 2 April 2009.

Offensive Weapons: Convictions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1093W, on offensive weapons: convictions, how many convictions there were for possession of a knife in the period June to November  (a) 2008 and  (b) 2007.

Jacqui Smith: The answer of the 17 March 2009 referred to a provisional 815 more convictions for the possession of a knife or offensive weapon in the 10 TKAP areas in the period June to November 2008 compared with the same period in 2007. Of this number, there were 777 more convictions for the possession of an article with a blade or point and 38 more convictions for the possession of an offensive weapon.
	These figures are provisional and have been derived from the police's administrative IT system, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1083W, on offensive weapons: crime prevention, whether young people were involved in the Tackling Knives Action Programme.

Vernon Coaker: Engaging young people has been a key element of the Tackling Knives Action Programme. All forces involved have delivered education programmes on the dangers and consequences of carrying knives. In addition, young people have been involved in youth forums, conferences and a range of events using drama, sport, music and dance. A National Youth Theatre tour, funded through the programme, has also given young people an opportunity to educate their peers on the risks and consequences of knife carrying.
	The Home Office worked with a group of young people to develop the 'It Doesn't Have to Happen' youth marketing campaign, which seeks to educate young people about the dangers of carrying a knife and encourage them to put the knife down and take up a more positive activity. Young people have contributed to the campaign's development and are encouraged to share the campaign messages with their peers. The campaign has used a range of radio, viral, online and poster adverts as well as events and competitions to get the messages across. Over 10,000 people are also members of the campaign's thriving Bebo community, providing young people with an online forum to share their views and take a stand against knife crime.

Offensive Weapons: Young People

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people received the maximum punishment on conviction for selling a knife to a young person under age in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Campbell: The maximum punishment on conviction for selling a knife to a young person under age is six months imprisonment and a fine of 5,000. As of 1 October 2007, the definition of a young person was amended from anyone under the age of 16, to under the age of 18.
	In each of the last 10 years, no one who was sentenced for selling a knife to a young person received the maximum sentence. Statutory maximums, should be seen as just that maximums and reserved solely for the most serious of offenders and offences, the majority of offenders will, quite rightly, not be eligible for such a sentence.
	Statistics on knife crime were published in annex A of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 01/09 Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly Update to September 2008, published on 22 January 2009. A copy of the publication is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0109.pdf

Police Custody: Death

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths in custody there were in each custody suite operated by South Wales Police in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Between 1 April 2004 and 28 February 2009 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has reported on eight deaths that occurred 'in or following police custody' in custody suites operated by South Wales police.
	In 2004-05 there were four deaths in or following police custody, involving police custody suites in Swansea Central police station and Barry police station.
	In 2006-07 there was one death in or following police custody, involving police custody suites in, Swansea Central police station and Rumney police station.
	There was one death on arrest but prior to arrival in a custody suite.
	In 2007-08 there was one death in or following police custody, involving the police custody suite in Barry police station.
	No deaths in or following police custody were reported in relation to South Wales police in 2005-06. Information for 2008-09 will be published in the IPCC annual report, which is due for publication in July 2009.

Police Stations: Barry

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Chief Constable of South Wales Police on the future of Barry Police Station.

Vernon Coaker: No discussions have taken place with the chief constable of South Wales police on the future of Barry police station. The management of the police estate and allocation of resources are matters for the police authority and chief constable for each force, who are responsible for assessing local needs.

Police: Discrimination

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation claims for discrimination have been brought against each police force in each of the last five years; and what the  (a) outcome and  (b) category of discrimination was in each case.

Jacqui Smith: The available information shows the overall number of compensation claims for discrimination in each police force area for each year between 2003-04 and 2007-08; and the numbers of claims brought, withdrawn, settled and awards made for sex discrimination, race discrimination and other discrimination by police force area over the five year period. These data appear in the following tables.
	Figures on individual cases are not collected centrally.
	These data are normally used for management information only and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics.
	These data are provisional and may be subject to change.
	Under the Normington Review proposals, the compensation claims collection will cease from April 2009.
	
		
			  Number of claims brought in year by type of discrimination( 1) 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			   Sex  Race  Other( 2)  Sex  Race  Other( 2)  Sex  Race  Other( 2)  Sex  Race  Other( 2)  Sex  Race  Other( 2) 
			 Avon and Somerset n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 14 0 3 3 1 9 
			 Bedfordshire 1 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire n/a n/a n/a 3 2 2 1 3 2 2 0 1 4 4 2 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Cleveland 3 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 
			 Cumbria 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 
			 Derbyshire 3 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 2 1 3 2 0 3 3 
			 Devon and Cornwall n/a n/a n/a 1 0 4 0 1 2 6 0 0 4 0 9 
			 Dorset 0 0 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 n/a n/a 2 0 4 
			 Essex 2 0 0 2 1 1 3 0 0 2 1 4 2 2 5 
			 Gloucestershire n/a n/a 4 0 1 0 2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 2 3 7 0 1 7 1 0 6 1 3 9 3 3 13 
			 Gwent 3 0 3 2 0 2 0 0 1 3 0 2 0 0 3 
			 Hampshire n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 2 5 1 1 5 0 0 4 
			 Hertfordshire 1 0 0 2 0 1 n/a n/a 2 2 1 1 1 2 3 
			 Humberside 2 1 n/a 2 2 2 4 0 2 3 0 0 1 0 5 
			 Kent 0 0 9 3 0 3 2 1 4 1 0 10 1 1 2 
			 Lancashire 1 1 1 n/a n/a n/a 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 3 
			 Leicestershire 3 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 2 3 2 2 0 1 1 1 
			 Lincolnshire 0 1 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 5 0 6 9 0 5 
			 City of London, 0 2 2 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 
			 Merseyside 1 2 1 0 4 7 1 3 9 0 0 5 2 1 6 
			 Metropolitan Police 23 20 27 21 22 12 25 25 28 12 23 27 9 18 71 
			 Norfolk 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 1 5 1 0 5 0 0 1 
			 Northamptonshire 2 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 7 3 1 3 3 2 1 
			 Northumbria 1 0 4 2 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 2 2 2 3 
			 North Wales 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 3 3 0 2 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 5 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 4 0 0 4 4 3 1 4 1 1 4 4 1 7 
			 South Wales 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 2 3 1 2 1 3 4 
			 South Yorkshire 1 0 2 2 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 3 3 2 3 
			 Staffordshire 3 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 2 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Surrey 3 0 1 n/a n/a n/a 3 0 4 6 1 3 4 2 5 
			 Sussex n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 3 1 3 0 0 0 3 1 3 
			 Thames Valley 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 2 2 1 4 2 0 6 
			 Warwickshire 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 
			 West Mercia 2 1 1 3 2 2 2 1 0 n/a n/a n/a 0 0 3 
			 West Midlands 13 3 0 10 2 1 4 2 8 3 4 8 n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Yorkshire 1 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 5 4 2 2 0 1 4 
			 Wiltshire 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 5 1 0 1 n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) All data are unverified and are therefore provided on a provisional basis only. (2) Claims relating to more than one type of discrimination (e.g. sex and race) are included under 'other'. n/a = Data unavailable. 
		
	
	
		
			  Outcome of claims for sex discrimination( 1,)( )( 2) 
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			   2003-04  2004-05 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn  No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset 
			 Bedfordshire 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 1 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 2 4 0 0 0 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 
			 Gloucestershire n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 1 0 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Gwent 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Hampshire n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Humberside n/a n/a n/a 2 0 0 2 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 7 7 31 0 7 16 14 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Wales 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 
			 Suffolk n/a n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Surrey 0 0 2 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sussex n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 0 0 2 2 3 0 6 9 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			   2 005 -0 6  200 6 -0 7 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn  No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 4 7 3 
			 Bedfordshire 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Essex 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 0 n/a n/a 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 1 1 5 6 0 2 5 11 
			 Norfolk 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 South Wales 0 0 9 0 0 0 4 1 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 2 0 0 1 3 1 
			 Sussex 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 1 2 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Midlands 0 2 2 3 1 0 2 1 
			 West Yorkshire 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 5 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			  2007-08 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 1 0 1 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 1 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 1 
			 Dorset n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 1 0 0 
			 Essex 0 0 0 2 
			 Gloucestershire n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 0 
			 Gwent 0 0 2 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 1 2 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 0 6 2 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 1 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 n/a 1 1 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 1 1 
			 Staffordshire 1 0 1 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 
			 Sussex 1 1 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 1 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Outcome of claims for race discrimination( 1,)( )( 2) 
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			   2003-04  2004-05 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn  No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Cambridgeshire n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 
			 Gloucestershire n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Humberside n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 London, City of 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 14 10 16 1 16 9 9 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 South Wales 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Suffolk n/a n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sussex n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 0 3 4 1 0 0 4 1 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			   2 005 -0 6  200 6 -0 7 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn  No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Essex 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 0 n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 London, City of 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 4 2 2 0 0 0 2 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 8 3 12 0 5 5 7 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	continued
	
		
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			  2007-08 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 1 0 1 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 0 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 1 1 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 1 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 2 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 0 1 6 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 1 0 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 South Wales 0 0 1 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 1 0 1 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 2 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 0 0 1 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Outcome of claims for other discrimination( 1,)( )( 2) 
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			   2003-04  2004-05 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn  No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Cambridgeshire n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 1 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Cumbria 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 1 0 11 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 1 0 1 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 8 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Hampshire n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Humberside n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 5 5 19 0 4 6 2 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 
			 Northumbria 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Wales 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk n/a n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Sussex n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			   2 005 -0 6  200 6 -0 7 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn  No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Essex 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 
			 Gwent 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Hampshire 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 
			 Hertfordshire 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 
			 Lancashire 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 London, City of 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 8 2 0 0 1 3 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 4 5 9 1 5 10 5 
			 Norfolk 0 3 2 3 1 5 1 3 
			 Northamptonshire 0 1 3 3 0 3 1 3 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 1 3 0 0 1 1 2 
			 Sussex 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 1 0 0 3 2 1 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Midlands 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 7 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 2 
			 Wiltshire 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  Financial year to 31 March( 3) 
			  2007-08 
			   No. of awards made  No. of claims dismissed  No. of settlements made  No. of claims withdrawn 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 2 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 1 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 1 1 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 2 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 2 
			 Dorset n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 2 
			 Essex 0 0 0 1 
			 Gloucestershire n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Greater Manchester 7 0 6 0 
			 Gwent 0 1 1 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 1 0 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 1 1 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 3 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 1 1 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 1 0 0 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 2 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 2 4 
			 Metropolitan Police 0 5 15 26 
			 Norfolk 0 1 1 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 1 0 0 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 1 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 
			 Nottinghamshire n/a n/a 1 3 
			 South Wales 0 0 1 1 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 1 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 1 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 2 1 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 1 2 1 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 1 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 1 0 
			 West Midlands n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 2 
			 Wiltshire n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) All data are unverified and are therefore provided on a provisional basis only. (2) Claims relating to more than one type of discrimination (e.g. sex and race) are included under 'other discrimination'. (3) Date relates to when the awards were made ore claims were dismissed, settled or withdrawn, even though the original claim may originally have been made in an early year. n/a = Data unavailable.

Police: Greater Manchester

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will provide funding to the Greater Manchester Police Authority to pay for policing the new electronic border operations centre in Wythenshawe.

Phil Woolas: The National Border Targeting Centre (NBTC) is a multi agency centre staffed with UKBA and police officers which is scheduled to open in late 2009. It is operated by the UK Border Agency and managed by Trusted Borders, who are responsible for providing 24-hour security as part of the e-Borders service contract.
	The impact of the NBTC upon local policing resources is considered to be negligible. It is not expected that specific funding to the Greater Manchester Police Authority will be needed to pay for policing the new centre.

Police: Health

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1093W, on police: health, how many people took police fitness tests in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what results were  (a) achieved and  (b) achieved for dynamic strength and endurance in each year.

Jacqui Smith: The available data are given in the tables placed in the House Library.
	The Policing Green Paper announced that Sir David Normington, permanent secretary to the Home Office, would lead a review of the strategic data collection burden placed by the Home Office on police forces in England and Wales. Sir David's report was published on 16 February.
	Fitness tests data collection was one of the data streams cut. It was previously required by HMIC and recorded fitness test breakdown by gender, number of attempts, number taking the attempt and the fitness skill level tested. Given HMIC's new mission after the publication of the Policing Green Paper, this data is no longer required by them. Forces have been informed not to provide the data in the 2009-10 annual data requirement notice thereby removing the burden on police support staff to collate and supply the data to the Home Office.

Police: ICT

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many hand-held computers have been issued to police officers; and how many police forces have received funding for hand-held computers from her Department in the last two years;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1166W, on police: electronic equipment, what proportion of patrol officers have been issued with a hand-held device.

Jacqui Smith: All police forces in England, Scotland and Wales have received funding. A total of 31,607 hand held devices had been issued at 30 March 2009. All of the devices have been issued to officers performing front line roles, many of whom will be undertaking patrol duties. The operational duties of the officers receiving the devices are a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.

Police: Marketing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 954-55W, on police: marketing, how many people had used the text back service on the date for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The text back service has received 2,250 texts since it began on 2 March 2009 up until 1 April 2009.

Police: Marketing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 954-55W, on police: marketing, how much her Department plans to spend on advertising and marketing the Policing Pledge in the financial year 2009-10.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office plans to spend 3 million on advertising and marketing the Policing Pledge in the financial year 2009-10. This campaign will increase awareness and understanding of the Policing Pledge. The public have a right to understand what service level they can expect from their local police and how to hold them to account if standards are not met.

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2479W, on the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre: Government Departments, for what reasons her Department paid for a room in the QE2 Conference Centre to hold its leadership away day; how much the booking cost; and why departmental buildings were not used for the away day.

Phil Woolas: The Government's London estate has limited conference facilities and so from time to time the Home Office and other Departments are required to hire external venues for events.
	We are not able to reveal the cost of the booking as this is a commercially sensitive issue between the Home Office and the QEII Centre.
	The QEII Centre is owned by the Crown (Department for Communities and Local Government).

Salvia Divinorum

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the health effects of salvia divinorum; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will classify salvia divinorum as an illegal drug.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has recently written to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs requesting that it provide advice to Government on the availability and harms of psychoactive legal alternatives to illegal drugs, so called legal highs, with a particular focus on protecting young people. I fully anticipate that this work will include Salvia Divinorum. The Government's position on its control will be informed by Advisory Council's advice.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency spent on frontline border staff in 2008.

Phil Woolas: The latest financial year for which accounts are available is 2007-08. Border Control was the operational directorate which included all frontline border staff in that year, and their pay costs were 161.2 million.
	It is not possible to breakdown those costs into frontline operational staff and support staff.

Vetting: Maladministration

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many of those incorrectly designated as having a criminal conviction by the Criminal Records Bureau since the bureau's inception are aged  (a) under 18,  (b) 19 to 25,  (c) 26 to 40,  (d) 41 to 60,  (e) 60 to 65 and  (f) 65 years and over;
	(2)  how many of those incorrectly designated as having a criminal conviction by the Criminal Records Bureau since the Bureau's inception are  (a) male and  (b) female.

Vernon Coaker: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has issued over 18 million Disclosures since its inception in 2002. The following table represents the number of Disclosures issued to applicants that had been matched to a record held on the Police National Computer (PNC) which had been challenged and subsequently upheld, broken down by age groups and gender.
	
		
			   Gender  
			  Age group  Male  Female  Total 
			 Under 18 14 29 43 
			 18 to 25 367 294 661 
			 26 to 40 1,223 663 1,886 
			 41 to 60 905 489 1,394 
			 61 to 65 62 17 79 
			 Over 65 60 18 78 
			 Total 2,631 1,510 4,141

Written Questions: Government Responses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer Question 250112, on Operation Pentameter, tabled by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield on 19 January 2009.

Jacqui Smith: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for crime reduction (Mr. Campbell) replied on 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 650W.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1336W, on children: databases, which companies bid for his Department's ContactPoint contract.

Beverley Hughes: In answer to the question I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1336W.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects Ofsted next to report on lessons learnt from serious case reviews.

Beverley Hughes: Lord Laming's report 'The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report' was published on 12 March. The Government announced, on the same day, that all of the recommendations had been accepted, and undertook to provide a detailed response to all 58 recommendations by the end of April.
	Recommendation 49 of the report said:
	'Ofsted should produce more regular reports, at six monthly intervals, which summarise the lessons from Serious Case Reviews'.
	Ofsted will also be responding to this and other relevant recommendations by the end of April.
	Ofsted have commenced the planning for its second report on the outcomes of its evaluations on serious case reviews. However, the report by Lord Laming recommended that Ofsted produce reports at six monthly intervals and they will consider whether they need to bring the next evaluation forward in the light of this.
	The Government already commission biennial overviews of Serious Case Reviews to draw out their key findings and identify their implications for policy and practice.

Departmental Buildings

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what properties his  (a) Department and  (b) Department's (i) executive and (ii) non-departmental public bodies have sold in each of the last five years; and how many of these have been sold for housing development.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The following properties have been sold in the last five years:
	 (a) In 2004 the Department for Children, Schools and Families sold Letchworth Skillcentre in Hertfordshire and in 2008 it sold Middlesbrough Skillcentre Annex and Wales Bar in Rotherhaim. None of these sales was for housing development.
	 (b) The Department has no agencies.
	 (c) In 2006 The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) sold a property in Preston, Lancashire to a developer, although the property did not have a residential planning permission.
	In 2004 the Children and Families Courts Advisory Service (CAFCASS) sold 5 Upper Park Road, Bromley, Kent.
	In 2005 it sold 65 Alma Road, Windsor, Berkshire.
	In 2006 it sold Darwen Health Centre, Blackburn, Lancashire and 90 Finkle Street, Cottingham, Yorkshire.
	In 2007 it sold a property in Dudley in the West Midlands.
	None of these sales were for housing development.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of students eligible to receive the education maintenance allowance who have waited  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three,  (d) four and  (e) five months or more to receive a payment since September 2008;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of students who have experienced a delay in the payment of education maintenance allowance since September 2008.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Geoffrey Russell the LSC's Acting Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Further Education: Finance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons the final 16 to 18 learner funding allocation issued to schools and colleges varied from the provisional allocation issued in early March.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the Press statement of 3 April 2009, which is available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0068

GCE A-Level

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils took A levels in two or more of  (a) accounting,  (b) art and design,  (c) business studies,  (d) communication studies,  (e) dance,  (f) design and technology,  (g) drama and theatre studies,  (h) film studies,  (i) health and social care,  (j) home economics,  (k) information and communication technology,  (l) leisure studies,  (m) media studies,  (n) music technology,  (o) performance studies,  (p) performing arts,  (q) photography,  (r) physical education,  (s) sports studies and  (t) travel and tourism in (i) maintained schools and (ii) independent schools in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: holding answer 23 February 2009
	26,483 pupils(1) in maintained schools(2) were entered for two or more GCE/Applied A-levels in the listed subjects in 2007/08. The equivalent number in independent schools was 3,283.
	(1) Pupils aged 16-18 at the start of the academic year.
	(2) The figure for maintained schools does not include further education colleges.

GCSE: Young Offenders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people in the secure estate sat GCSE examinations in 2008.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of GCSEs sat for young people in custody are not collected centrally. However, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) collects monthly data on learning for young people in Prison Service Young Offender Institutions. This data shows that during the 2008 academic year, for young people under the age of 18, there were 106 GCSE achievements between grades A and C, and 159 GCSE achievements below grade C. However, these figures do not reflect all of the GCSEs achieved in juvenile custody because this does not include young people in Secure Children's Homes, Secure Training Centres, or private prisons. Also some of the young people in Young Offender Institutions are still registered at schools and colleges and therefore any GCSEs that they achieve whilst in custody will be reflected in achievement figures of schools and colleges, rather than the figures reported by the LSC for those achieved in custody.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 489W, on the General Certificate of Secondary Education, if he will provide an itemised breakdown of the estimated cost of providing the requested information in full.

Jim Knight: In the reply to PQ 231974, the estimated costs of providing the information requested in PQs 224479 and 224500 were 1,300 and 900 respectively.
	Following a detailed analysis of the processes involved in answering these questions we are able to provide the itemised breakdowns as follows:
	 To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, at how many co mprehensive schools 50 per cent. or more pupils achieved a modern languages GCSE at A*-C in each year since 1997. (224479)
	
		
			   Hours required  Cost to Department 
			  Planning 9 225 
			 Implementing production rules 1 25 
			 Writing syntax 8 200 
			
			  Producing figures (11 years) 50.16 1,254 
			
			  Producing figures (one year) 4.56 114 
			 Run the required filters (including maintained only sector) 0.32 8 
			 Create variables in exam file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to pupil level 0.2 5 
			 Merge into pupil file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to school level 0.2 5 
			 Merge to school file 0.2 5 
			 Analysis of output (e.g. remove independent schools, remove schools with 10 pupils, count how many with 50 per cent. MFL, etc.) 3 75 
			
			  Additional work 1.5 37.5 
			 Formatting, footnotes, etc. 0.25 6.25 
			 Personal QAing 1 25 
			 Drafting PQ reply 0.25 6.25 
			
			  QAing 3.5 87.5 
			
			  Comments, redrafting, etc. 3 75 
			
			  Signing off at SCS level 1 25 
			
			  Total 66.16 1,704 
		
	
	 To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what percentage of pupils in the maintained mainstream sector achieved five GCSEs including a modern language at A* to C grades in each year since 1997. (224500)
	
		
			   Hours required  Cost to Department 
			  Planning 9 225 
			 Implementing production rules 1 25 
			 Writing syntax 8 200 
			
			  Producing figures (11 years) 16.28 407 
			
			  Producing figures (one year) 1.48 37 
			 Run the required filters (including maintained only sector) 0.32 8 
			 Create variables in exam file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to pupil level 0.2 5 
			 Merge into pupil file 0.32 8 
			 Analysis of output (count number of pupils with 5 A*-C including MFL) 0.32 8 
			
			  Additional work 1.5 37.5 
			 Formatting, footnotes, etc. 0.25 6.25 
			 Personal QAing 1 25 
			 Drafting PQ reply 0.25 6.25 
			
			  QAing 3.5 87.5 
			
			  Comments, redrafting, etc. 3 75 
			
			  Signing off at SCS level 1 25 
			
			  Total 32.28 857

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 845W, on the General Certificate of Secondary Education, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing all the information requested; and under what budgetary headings such expenditure would be incurred.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The estimated cost to the Department of providing all the information requested is 850. These are salary costs.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 17 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 1854-55W, on educational attainment, how many and what proportion of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 attending  (a) maintained secondary schools and  (b) independent secondary schools achieved each grade in GCSE for (i) geography, (ii) history, (iii) a modern foreign language, (iv) English and (v) mathematics in each year since 1998.

Jim Knight: Tables showing the number and proportion of GCSE entries by grade and subject for pupils at the end of key stage 4 attending maintained and independent secondary schools from 2005-08 have been placed in the House Libraries. All GCSE attempts (including multiple attempts within each subject group) have been counted.
	Figures prior to 2005 can not be provided on a comparable basis.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 16 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1502-3W, on schools: assessments, which of the schools that entered no pupils for a GCSE in history or geography also entered no pupils for a GCSE in humanities.

Jim Knight: The information is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Schools that entered no pupils for a GCSE in history or geography and also no pupils for a GCSE in humanities 
			  School code  Institution name  Local authority 
			 3096905 Greig City Academy Haringey 
			 3125406 Rosedale College Hillingdon 
			 3304611 St. Alban's CE Specialist Engineering College Birmingham 
			 3706905 The Barnsley Academy Barnsley 
			 8134075 Brumby Engineering College North Lincolnshire 
			 8564005 New College Leicester Leicester City 
			 8866906 The Marlowe Academy Kent 
			 9255422 St. Hugh's C of E Mathematics and Computing College Lincolnshire 
			 9354600 St. Benedict's Catholic School Suffolk

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to reply to the letter of 28 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Dr. G. Bailey of Yate, on Government support for childcare provision.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department has no record of receiving the letter of 28 January from the hon. Member. If the hon. Member can forward a copy of the letter to the Department a reply will be sent within the agreed Whitehall standard.

Ofsted

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 221-2W on local government: disclosure of information, how many people have contacted Ofsted's National Business Unit anonymously in each of the last four years; how many Ofsted investigators have been investigated as a result; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 March 2009
	This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 1 April 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted has only recorded the number of anonymous contacts with the National Business Unitthat may have required action, as opposed to simple requests for informationsince April 2007, when the new organisation came into being. These anonymous contacts relate to complaints about schools. Table A shows the number in each year as recorded in our system.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of anonymous contacts with the National Business Unit that may have required action 
			  Year  Quantity 
			 2007-08 30 
			 2008-09 65 
		
	
	Some additional anonymous contacts relating to the compliance, investigation and enforcement activities we undertake on childcare, daycare and other children's services are made directly to our inspectors or local teams, rather than via the National Business Unit. This information is not collated or held centrally and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
	As these were complaints about schools and not about inspections, they did not lead to any Ofsted inspectors being investigated.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to the Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children aged 16 years or under are attending a school participating in the National Challenge in each local education authority.

Jim Knight: The following shows the proportion of children aged 16 years or under attending schools supported by the National Challenge by local authority.
	This table captures the proportion of pupils in the 440 schools currently below the 30 per cent. benchmark target where fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieve 5 A*-C at GCSE including English and mathematics, based on validated 2008 data. These figures are captured in column A. All of these schools are receiving additional bespoke support.
	The National Challenge programme does not just however support schools below the floor target. Bespoke support is also provided for schools at risk of dropping below the floor target. The table also therefore captures the proportion of pupils in schools receiving support from the National Challenge and City Challenge programmes. These figures are captured in column B.
	
		
			  State-funded secondary schools( 1) : number and proportion of pupils aged 16 and under( 2)  attending national challenge and city challenge schools, England, by  local authority , at as January 2008 
			  Local authority   All state- funded secondary schools  Column A - schools below 30 pe r  cent .  floor  Column B - All national challenge and city challenge supported schools 
			   LA number  Pupils aged 16 and under  Pupils aged  16 and under  %  of pupils( 3)  Pupils aged  16 and under  %  of pupils( 3) 
			 England  3,113,670 364,440 11.7 585,480 18.8 
			 City of London 201 0 
			 Camden 202 8,770 
			 Greenwich 203 13,350 1,160 8.7 7,030 52.7 
			 Hackney 204 7,410 730 9.8 1,190 16.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 205 6,090   600 9.8 
			 Islington 206 8,020 850 10.6 2,710 33.8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 207 3,230 
			 Lambeth 208 8,740 710 8.1 2,110 24.2 
			 Lewisham 209 12,300 820 6.7 2,060 16.7 
			 Southwark 210 12,470 1,880 15.0 1,100 8.8 
			 Tower Hamlets 211 13,660 2,780 20.4 2,780 20.4 
			 Wandsworth 212 10,480 420 4.0 1,480 14.1 
			 Westminster 213 7,770 800 10.3   
			 Barking and Dagenham 301 11,910 1,270 10.7 2,460 20.6 
			 Barnet 302 18,830 700 3.7 700 3.7 
			 Bexley 303 18,580 6,900 37.1 6,360 34.2 
			 Brent 304 15,950 1,670 10.5 1,130 7.1 
			 Bromley 305 20,040   910 4.5 
			 Croydon 306 19,650 1,620 8.2 4,340 22.1 
			 Ealing 307 15, 800   1,260 7.9 
			 Enfield 308 20,350 3,640 17.9 3,640 17.9 
			 Haringey 309 11,990 1,030 8.6 1,300 10.9 
			 Harrow 310 8,980   680 7.5 
			 Havering 311 16,010   1,940 12.1 
			 Hillingdon 312 16,890 4,600 27.3 4,220 25.0 
			 Hounslow 313 14,950 1,120 7.5 3,110 20.8 
			 Kingston upon Thames 314 8,560 
			 Merton 315 8,180 830 10.1 990 12.1 
			 Newham 316 17,850 2,140 12.0 2,140 12.0 
			 Redbridge 317 18,850   830 4.4 
			 Richmond upon Thames 318 6,920   820 11.8 
			 Sutton 319 14,900 1,900 12.7 1,970 13.2 
			 Waltham Forest 320 13,440 740 5.5 2,130 15.9 
			 Birmingham 330 65,760 16,610 25.3 24,500 37.3 
			 Coventry 331 19,260 5,060 26.2 6,820 35.4 
			 Dudley 332 19,990 2,240 11.2 3,990 19.9 
			 Sandwell 333 19,500 6,660 34.2 10,070 51.7 
			 Solihull 334 16,210 4,220 26.0 3,140 19.3 
			 Walsall 335 19,850 6,200 31.2 12,790 64.4 
			 Wolverhampton 336 14,870 3,220 21.7 6,830 45.9 
			 Knowsley(4) 340 8,380 3,050 36.4 3,390 40.5 
			 Liverpool 341 29,120 6,740 23.1 12,510 43.0 
			 St Helens 342 10,740 590 5.5 1,870 17.4 
			 Sefton 343 18,450 2,400 13.0 3,650 19.8 
			 Wirral 344 21,500 2,910 13.5 4,810 22.4 
			 Bolton 350 18,320 3,940 21.5 4,660 25.4 
			 Bury 351 11,380   1,590 13.9 
			 Manchester 352 23,460 3,140 13.4 10,170 43.4 
			 Oldham 353 15,740 4,270 27.1 8,100 51.5 
			 Rochdale 354 13,000 1,620 12.4 1,620 12.4 
			 Salford 355 11,420 1,640 14.3 3,770 33.0 
			 Stockport 356 15,270 560 3.7 2,220 14.6 
			 Tameside 357 14,910 1,170 7.8 4,660 31.2 
			 Trafford 358 15,300 420 2.8 1,310 8.5 
			 Wigan 359 19,860 560 2.8 5,500 27.7 
			 Barnsley 370 13,430 5,040 37.5 6,810 50.7 
			 Doncaster 371 19,750 6,160 31.2 8,450 42.8 
			 Rotherham 372 19,030 1,310 6.9 7,360 38.7 
			 Sheffield 373 29,760 9,070 30.5 8,710 29.3 
			 Bradford 380 32,090 9,630 30.0 17,810 55.5 
			 Calderdale 381 14,430 830 5.7 1,260 8.7 
			 Kirklees 382 25,490 2,760 10.8 6,950 27.3 
			 Leeds 383 44,160 5,190 11.8 12,330 27.9 
			 Wakefield 384 20,870   2,370 11.3 
			 Gateshead 390 11,940 750 6.3 2,100 17.6 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 391 15,120 1,720 11.4 4,420 29.2 
			 North Tyneside 392 12,860 760 5.9 2,310 17.9 
			 South Tyneside 393 9,230 710 7.7 710 7.7 
			 Sunderland 394 17,610 1,450 8.2 2,370 13.5 
			 Isles of Scilly 420 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 800 11,610   360 3.1 
			 Bristol, City of 801 15,550 4,570 29.4 6,210 40.0 
			 North Somerset 802 12,240 820 6.7 820 6.7 
			 South Gloucestershire 803 17,130   570 3.3 
			 Hartlepool 805 6,330   1,760 27.8 
			 Middlesbrough 806 8,590 2,640 30.7 2,310 26.9 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 807 9,510 1,420 14.9 1,880 19.7 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 808 11,770 1,760 15.0 1,760 15.0 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 810 14,580 7,000 48.0 8,420 57.7 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 811 21,550 1,020 4.7 1,020 4.7 
			 North East Lincolnshire 812 9,990 4,550 45.6 4,210 42.1 
			 North Lincolnshire 813 10,280   1,790 17.4 
			 North Yorkshire 815 38,100 1,400 3.7 2,720 7.1 
			 York 816 9,450 420 4.4 1,380 14.6 
			 Bedfordshire 820 35,390 2,140 6.1 2,140 6.1 
			 Luton 821 12,190 
			 Buckinghamshire 825 31,420 3,620 11.5 6,610 21.0 
			 Milton Keynes 826 14,930 2,660 17.8 2,660 17.8 
			 Derbyshire 830 47,440 3,190 6.7 7,720 16.3 
			 Derby 831 15,510 1,760 11.3 4,580 29.6 
			 Dorset 835 27,850 1,320 4.7 2,320 8.3 
			 Poole 836 7,750 1,340 17.3 1,340 17.3 
			 Bournemouth 837 9,150 1,830 20.0 3,220 35.2 
			 Durham 840 30,010 2,830 9.4 5,570 18.6 
			 Darlington 841 5,930 1,460 24.7 880 14.9 
			 East Sussex 845 27,230 3,530 12.9 6,740 24.7 
			 Brighton and Hove 846 11,560 2,460 21.3 2,460 21.3 
			 Hampshire 850 70,150 1,300 1.9 4,120 5.9 
			 Portsmouth 851 9,330 1,690 18.1 3,140 33.6 
			 Southampton 852 10,810 1,520 14.0 1,520 14.0 
			 Leicestershire 855 42,770 490 1.2 490 1.2 
			 Leicester 856 17,760 3,210 18.1 4,140 23.3 
			 Rutland 857 2,370 
			 Staffordshire 860 55,600 3,170 5.7 4,290 7.7 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 861 13,350 3,780 28.3 4,510 33.8 
			 Wiltshire 865 27,510   2,640 9.6 
			 Swindon 866 11,830 3,440 29.0 2,290 19.4 
			 Bracknell Forest 867 5,970   1,080 18.1 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 868 9,310 
			 West Berkshire 869 11,130 820 7.3 1,310 11.8 
			 Reading 870 5,580 640 11.5 770 13.7 
			 Slough 871 8,740   700 8.0 
			 Wokingham 872 9,650 530 5.5   
			 Cambridgeshire 873 31,340 2,770 8.8 4,250 13.6 
			 Peterborough 874 12,160 4,840 39.8 2,850 23.4 
			 Cheshire 875 42,310 3,560 8.4 5,330 12.6 
			 Halton 876 7,620 530 6.9 1,530 20.1 
			 Warrington 877 13,160 960 7.3 2,410 18.3 
			 Devon 878 40,470   3,540 8.7 
			 Plymouth 879 16,690 4,210 25.2 5,310 31.8 
			 Torbay 880 8,200 2,530 30.8 2,530 30.8 
			 Essex 881 85,230 6,060 7.1 10,770 12.6 
			 Southend-on-Sea 882 11,790 900 7.6 4,130 35.0 
			 Thurrock 883 8,810 3,860 43.8 3,250 36.9 
			 Herefordshire 884 9,770 
			 Worcestershire 885 35,970 2,410 6.7 3,210 8.9 
			 Kent 886 92,960 25,080 27.0 28,320 30.5 
			 Medway 887 18,600 4,580 24.6 6,660 35.8 
			 Lancashire 888 69,250 6,160 8.9 8,230 11.9 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 889 9,400 470 5.0 470 5.0 
			 Blackpool 890 8,240 3,490 42.3 3,490 42.3 
			 Nottinghamshire 891 50,010 5,310 10.6 12,370 24.7 
			 Nottingham 892 14,180 5,880 41.4 5,700 40.2 
			 Shropshire 893 16,790 
			 Telford and Wrekin 894 11,450 2,710 23.6 5,680 49.6 
			 Cornwall 908 30,880 2,170 7.0 4,410 14.3 
			 Cumbria 909 32,530 1,700 5.2 6,750 20.7 
			 Gloucestershire 916 37,290 2,650 7.1 5,330 14.3 
			 Hertfordshire 919 73,330 3,830 5.2 3,830 5.2 
			 Isle of Wight 921 11,260 
			 Lincolnshire 925 45,340 4,820 10.6 7,470 16.5 
			 Norfolk 926 46,480 5,540 11.9 7,530 16.2 
			 Northamptonshire 928 44,060 6,900 15.7 9,530 21.6 
			 Northumberland 929 27,210 530 2.0 1,620 6.0 
			 Oxfordshire 931 34,290 1,630 4.8 960 2.8 
			 Somerset 933 31,100 1,770 5.7 2,640 8.5 
			 Suffolk 935 50,590 3,280 6.5 6,100 12.1 
			 Surrey 936 56,410   2,120 3.8 
			 Warwickshire 937 32,060 2,620 8.2 5,030 15.7 
			 West Sussex 938 42,690 3,500 8.2 5,860 13.7 
			 (1) Includes City Technology Colleges and Academies. (2) Excludes dually registered pupils. (3) Number of pupils aged 16 and under in National Challenge schools expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils aged 16 and under in all state-funded secondary schools. (4) Two National Challenge schools in this LA have not been included as they were not open at the January 2008 census date.  Note: Pupil numbers are rounded to nearest 10.  Source : School Census

Science: Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 2 November 2005,  Official Report, columns 1207-11W, on science, what percentage of those students who gained  (a) a GCSE,  (b) an A-level and  (c) an AS-level in (i) biology or human biology, (ii) chemistry and (iii) physics in each year since 2000 were educated in (A) the state sector and (B) the independent sector, broken down by grade;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 2544-46W, on languages: general certificate of secondary education, how many and what proportion of pupils who gained a GCSE in  (a) physics,  (b) chemistry and  (c) biology at each grade were educated in the (i) maintained and (ii) independent sector in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries for the years 2005-08. Figures prior to 2005 can be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Secondary Education: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in funding for secondary schools in Milton Keynes announced for 2009-10 by the Learning and Skills Council;
	(2)  for what reasons the Learning and Skills Council replaced the final funding allocation sent to schools in Milton Keynes on 3 March 2009 with a final funding statement on 31 March 2009; what assessment he has made of the effect of this on schools' budgetary planning; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I refer the hon. Member to the Press statement of 3 April 2009, which is available at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0068

Sixth Form Education

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 279-80W, on sixth form education, whether the changes to the Decision Makers' guidance in relation to new school sixth forms were implemented in February 2009.

Jim Knight: I am currently considering comments received from key 16-19 stakeholders in the consultation on the proposed changes to the Decision Maker's Guidance. The full revised guidance will be published on the Department's website as soon as possible. On 26 March we made one change to the guidance to alter the presumption eligibility period from 12 to 24 months.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils attended independent special schools in each local authority area in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The earliest and latest available data is shown in the following table.
	Data for further years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The data shows the number of pupils attending independent schools in each local authority area that are either approved under s347 of the Education Act 1996, or that cater wholly or mainly for pupils with special educational needs. The Department does not hold data identifying which authority may have placed a pupil in an independent school, or whether pupils have been placed at their parents' own expense.
	
		
			  Independent special sch oo ls( 1) : Number of pupils in independent schools that are either approved under s347 of the 1996 Education Act or that cater wholly or mainly for pupils with SEN: As at January 2005 and 2008England 
			Headcount of pupils( 2) 
			  LA Number  LA  n ame  2005( 3)  2008( 3) 
			 202 Camden 40 10 
			 204 Hackney 50 70 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 130 90 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 0 40 
			 208 Lambeth 40 30 
			 210 Southwark 40 40 
			 212 Wandsworth 110 100 
			 213 Westminster 130 150 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 0 10 
			 302 Barnet 20 30 
			 305 Bromley 30 30 
			 306 Croydon 50 60 
			 307 Ealing 100 100 
			 308 Enfield 10 0 
			 309 Haringey 30 70 
			 312 Hillingdon 70 90 
			 315 Merton 130 180 
			 316 Newham 0 0 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 0 140 
			 319 Sutton (4) (4) 
			 330 Birmingham 50 130 
			 331 Coventry 0 (4) 
			 334 Solihull 0 (4) 
			 335 Walsall 0 100 
			 340 Knowsley 20 0 
			 341 Liverpool 50 50 
			 342 St Helens 60 60 
			 343 Sefton 50 50 
			 350 Bolton 0 (4) 
			 351 Bury 0 10 
			 352 Manchester 60 40 
			 353 Oldham 0 0 
			 354 Rochdale (4) 10 
			 356 Stockport 50 60 
			 357 Tameside 0 10 
			 370 Barnsley 10 130 
			 371 Doncaster 70 70 
			 372 Rotherham 130 0 
			 373 Sheffield 20 30 
			 380 Bradford 0 10 
			 381 Calderdale 20 50 
			 382 Kirklees 0 (4) 
			 383 Leeds 0 (4) 
			 384 Wakefield 10 30 
			 392 North Tyneside 0 20 
			 394 Sunderland 80 70 
			 801 City of Bristol 80 80 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 20 20 
			 805 Hartlepool 0 (4) 
			 810 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 50 30 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire (4) 10 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 0 10 
			 815 North Yorkshire 10 20 
			 820 Bedfordshire (4) 30 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 90 120 
			 830 Derbyshire 270 250 
			 835 Dorset 230 240 
			 840 Durham 0 10 
			 841 Darlington 0 10 
			 845 East Sussex 210 210 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 10 10 
			 850 Hampshire 420 510 
			 852 Southampton 60 50 
			 855 Leicestershire 80 140 
			 857 Rutland 0 50 
			 860 Staffordshire 180 180 
			 861 Stoke 0 10 
			 865 Wiltshire 160 160 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 0 10 
			 869 West Berkshire 60 60 
			 870 Reading 10 0 
			 872 Wokingham 30 10 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 80 80 
			 874 City of Peterborough 0 10 
			 875 Cheshire 50 50 
			 876 Halton (4) 20 
			 877 Warrington 10 20 
			 878 Devon 170 190 
			 879 City of Plymouth 20 10 
			 880 Torbay 10 10 
			 881 Essex 130 190 
			 882 Southend 0 (4) 
			 884 Herefordshire 100 90 
			 885 Worcestershire 70 70 
			 886 Kent 470 540 
			 887 Medway 50 40 
			 888 Lancashire 460 550 
			 889 Blackburn and Darwen 60 10 
			 890 Blackpool (4) 10 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 10 10 
			 892 City of Nottingham 30 10 
			 893 Shropshire 140 210 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 30 50 
			 908 Cornwall 0 10 
			 909 Cumbria 360 300 
			 916 Gloucestershire 50 50 
			 919 Hertfordshire 50 60 
			 925 Lincolnshire 50 60 
			 926 Norfolk 190 210 
			 928 Northamptonshire 70 90 
			 929 Northumberland 0 (4) 
			 931 Oxfordshire 50 70 
			 933 Somerset 470 420 
			 935 Suffolk 90 130 
			 936 Surrey 420 520 
			 937 Warwickshire 30 50 
			 938 West Sussex 220 210 
			 (1) Includes school types: Independent Schools Approved for SEN Pupils and Other Independent Special Schools. (2) Excludes dually registered pupils. (3) In a small number of cases there is a relatively large change between the two years. This is because of changes in the number of schools of this type between the years, and movement of schools between local authority areas. (4) Less than five pupils.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2008,  O fficial Report, column 1250W, on special educational needs: disadvantaged, how many special schools there were in each decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices in 2008;
	(2)  how many specials schools there were in each decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices in 2003.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information requested is shown in the table:
	
		
			  Number of special schools( 1)  by IDACI decile( 2)  of school location 
			  IDACI decile  2003  2008 
			 0-10% most deprived areas 121 117 
			 10-20% 122 114 
			 20-30% 113 102 
			 30-40% 125 123 
			 40-50% 110 99 
			 50-60% 94 92 
			 60-70% 115 105 
			 70-80% 105 93 
			 80-90% 129 109 
			 90-100% least deprived areas 126 111 
			 (1) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. (2) 2007 Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.  Source: School Census

Special Educational Needs: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1250W, on special educational needs: disadvantaged, what the names of the 117 schools referred to in the table are; and in which local authority area each is located.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: A table listing the 117 special schools in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output area by Income Deprivation Affecting Children Indices has been placed in the House Libraries.

Specialised Diplomas

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many days work-based training pupils have completed on average in each level of each of the 14 to 19 diplomas.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Young people began Diploma programmes for the first time in September 2008. At this early stage, in one or two year programmes, detailed data on the number of days they have completed in work based training is not available.
	However, each Diploma learner must complete a minimum of 10 days work experience during their programme. In addition, as part of their Diploma programme, they will have opportunities to undertake work related learning in a range of settings beyond the classroom, to equip them with the knowledge and skills for employment and further study.

Teachers: Gender

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of  (a) secondary and  (b) primary school headteachers were (i) male and (ii) female in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of  (a) secondary and  (b) primary school teachers were (i) male and (ii) female in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The available information on full-time regular qualified teachers in local authority maintained schools by phase, grade and sex is published in Table D2 of the Statistical First Release School Workforce in England (including Local Authority level figures), January 2008 (Revised) which can be found at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000813/index.shtml
	The annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, 618g, is the Department's preferred source of teacher numbers in service, but this is not broken down by gender. Table D2 uses information from the Database of Teacher Records which is not as complete as 618G. Hence, the proportions quoted within it are reliable but the underlying numbers are not included.
	Underlying teacher numbers, broken down by gender, are available from the School Census and cover all teachers employed in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools. These figures cannot be broken down by grade however and therefore relate to all teachers including heads.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent number and proportions of male and female teachers( 1)  in local authority maintained nursery/primary and secondary schoolsyears: January 1997 to 2008 
			  Coverage: England 
			   Nursery/Primary  Secondary( 2) 
			   Male  Percentage  Female  Percentage  Male  Percentage  Female  Percentage 
			 1997 29,730 16 155,790 84 86,010 47 98,320 53 
			 1998 29,000 16 155,470 84 84,780 46 99,690 54 
			 1999 28,840 16 156,960 84 84,910 46 101,400 54 
			 2000 28,740 15 158,260 85 85,060 45 103,320 55 
			 2001 28,670 15 161,020 85 86,280 45 107,060 55 
			 2002 29,230 15 163,870 85 88,910 44 111,540 56 
			 2003 28,570 15 162,520 85 89,250 44 114,680 56 
			 2004 28,030 15 160,710 85 88,980 43 116,840 57 
			 2005 27,510 15 160,600 85 89,260 43 119,780 57 
			 2006 27,730 15 162,750 85 88,930 42 121,680 58 
			 2007 27,490 14 162,810 86 87,650 42 122,570 58 
			 2008 27,690 14 163,450 86 86,330 41 124,540 59 
			 (1) Includes qualified and unqualified teachers. (2) Excludes Academies.  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Teachers: Males

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to his letter of correction of 4 December 2008 to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, Deposited Paper DEP2008-2997, to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 596W, on teachers: males, which five secondary schools did not have any male teachers in 2008; and in which local authority area each was.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the name and local authority area of maintained secondary schools recorded in the school census of January 2008 as having no male full-time qualified teacher. Middle schools deemed secondary are included.
	
		
			  Local authority maintained secondary schools with no male full-time qualified( 1)  teacher, 2008, England 
			   Local authority  area 
			 Bolton Muslim Girls School Bolton 
			 Feversham College Bradford 
			 Seahouses Middle School Northumberland 
			 West Sleekburn Middle School Northumberland 
			 Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School Hackney 
			 (1) Teacher with qualified teacher status.  Source: School Census.

Teachers: Males

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to his letter of correction of 4 December 2008 to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, Deposited Paper DEP2008-2997, to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 596W, on teachers: males, how many and what percentage of primary school pupils who  (a) lived and  (b) attended school in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices in 2008 attended schools with no male teachers.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown as follows:
	 (a) In 2008, 85,883 primary school pupils(1,2) who lived in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices (IDACI) attended schools with no male teachers. This represents 14.7 per cent. of all primary school pupils who lived in the most deprived IDACI decile. This compares with 20.5 per cent. of primary pupils resident in all IDACI deciles, who attend schools with no male teachers.
	 (b) In 2008, 69,990 primary school pupils(1,2) who attended school in the most deprived decile of lower layer super output areas as determined by the income deprivation affecting children indices (IDACI) attended schools with no male teachers. This represents 14.6 per cent. of all primary school pupils who attended school in the most deprived IDACI decile. This compares with 20.6 per cent. of primary pupils who attend school in all IDACI deciles, who attend schools with no male teachers.
	(1) Includes solely registered and main registration of dually registered pupils.
	(2) Includes pupils of all ages attending maintained primary schools.
	 Source:
	School Census 2008.

Written Questions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost to his predecessor Department of preparing the answer of 2 November 2005,  Official Report, columns 1207-11W, on science.

Jim Knight: It is estimated that the cost of preparing the reply to PQ 22930 was 2,700.
	 To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of those students who gained (a) a GCSE, (b) an A level and (c) an AS level in (i) biology or human biology, (ii) chemistry and (iii) physics in each year since 1997 were educated in (A) the state sector and (B) the independent sector, broken down by grade; and if she will make a statement.
	The estimated breakdown for this PQ is:
	
		
			   Hours required  Cost to Department 
			  Planning 4.5 112.5 
			 Implementing production rules 0.5 12.5 
			 Writing syntax 4 100 
			
			  Producing figures (9 years  GCSE, AS Level and A Level) 93.96 2,349 
			  Producing figures (one year - GCSE, AS Level and A Level) 10.44 261 
			  Producing figures (one year) 3.48 87 
			 Run the required filters (maintained/independent sector) 0.32 8 
			 Create variables in exam file 0.32 8 
			 Aggregate up to pupil level 0.2 5 
			 Merge into pupil file 0.32 8 
			 Create tables 0.32 8 
			 Analysis of output 2 50 
			
			  Additional work 2.75 68.75 
			 Formatting, footnotes, etc. 1.5 37.5 
			 Personal QAing 1 25 
			 Drafting PQ reply 0.25 6.25 
			
			  QAing 3.5 87.5 
			  Comments, redrafting, etc. 3 75 
			
			  Signing off at SCS level 1 25 
			
			  Total 108.71 2,717.75

Young People: Apprentices

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many hours a week on average pupils on young apprenticeships in each industrial sector spent in a work setting in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Young Apprenticeship programme (YA) for 14 to 16-year-olds is a successful pilot available in selected areas since 2004. From September 2006 all YAs have undertaken a minimum of 50 days work experience, regardless of sector. The Sector Skills Council (SSCs) oversees the quality and certification of this process.
	There are a number of approved delivery models with many young people undertaking placements on a one day per week basis. However, on average 44 per cent. of YAs also use periods of block placement to gain work experience with employers or a mixture of both.
	An evaluation of the programme carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) which covers the period September 2004 to July 2006 indicated that on average YA learners undertook between 10 and 53 days of work experience. This data covers a period before a 50 day minimum requirement was introduced.
	Monitoring of the fulfilment of placements is the responsibility of the lead partner within the YA partnerships which may be a school, work base learning provider or the delivery partner.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will delete paragraph 4.2 from his Department's publication Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy: The Law and Clinical Practice in Northern Ireland; what recent representations he has received on the paragraph; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: This is a devolved matter; I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 851W.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on  (a) the purchase of and  (b) bills for (i) Blackberrys and (ii) other mobile telephones for (A) Ministers, (B) special advisers and (C) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office groups expenditure for BlackBerrys and mobile phones together.
	Expenditure for the purchase of these items is posted against telecommunications expense headings which contain spend for other goods and services. Therefore extracting the purchase costs required could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	Total departmental spend, excluding Agencies and Executive NDPBs, on BlackBerry and mobile phone charges from 2005-06 to 2007-08, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Expenditure (000) 
			 2005-06 136 
			 2006-07 124 
			 2007-08 78 
		
	
	The decrease in spend in 2007-08 reflects a new contract which has reduced line rental costs.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) Blackberrys and  (b) other mobile telephones have been provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Paul Goggins: Records for the number of mobile telephones and BlackBerrys are maintained on a rolling basis and therefore it is only possible to give an accurate picture of the total number currently in use.
	As of 1 April 2009, 28 BlackBerrys are being provided by the Department; One to Ministers, two to special advisers and 25 to civil servants. On the same date, 341 mobile phones are being provided, two to Ministers and 339 to civil servants.

Carbon Emissions

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to attract private sector funding for his Department's programmes designed to improve the energy efficiency of domestic properties.

Joan Ruddock: Energy supply companies are required to meet carbon reduction targets by promoting the installation of energy efficiency measures under CERT. Insulation measures make up a significant percentage (62 per cent.) of energy suppliers progress towards their targets to date (as end December 2008). We are currently consulting on expanding the CERT by 20 per cent. and on extending a CERT mechanism beyond March 2011 to 2012. We hope that these two proposals, in combination with work to improve the exchange of information between the insulation industry and energy suppliers, should help to generate greater continuity and confidence in the market and lead to appropriate investment.

Carbon Emissions: Canada

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the level of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the full exploitation of the oil sands in Canada.

Joan Ruddock: Data contained in the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that the hypothetical full exploitation of energy in unconventional oil resources globally would release in excess of 2,670 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. The Government have not made a separate estimate for the oil sands of Canada.

Combined Heat and Power

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff of his Department work on matters relating to combined heat and power on a  (a) full-time equivalent and  (b) headcount basis.

Joan Ruddock: In order to respond flexibly to the needs of Government, resources are frequently redeployed as needed on key projects. At present, on a full-time equivalent basis, three staff in DECC are dedicated solely to combined heat and power. A far larger number of officers address issues partially related to combined heat and power, such as: economic analysis, statistical analysis and the role of combined heat and power in a number of schemes and strategies such as the proposed Renewable Energy Strategy and the Heat and Energy Saving Strategies.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the  (a) energy consumed by,  (b) energy cost of and  (c) carbon dioxide emissions from each category of IT device in each division of his Department since its establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department currently uses IT systems provided by the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs. There has not been a detailed analysis by organisation and division of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

Departmental Manpower

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the annual staffing costs of his Department.

Mike O'Brien: The Administration Budget for DECC in 2008-09 was 98 million.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 404W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under each budget heading his Department incurred in the meeting of energy and oil Ministers in London on 18 and 19 December 2008.

Mike O'Brien: The meeting in London on 18 and 19 December 2008 of International Energy and Oil Ministers cost the Department 516,200.28. This figure is broken down by the following categories of expenditure:
	
		
			
			 Event organisation and logistical arrangements (1)255,870.75 
			 Hire of conference venue and hotel accommodation for delegates 130,289.53 
			 Production of analytical reports and research 130,040.00 
			 (1) This figure includes event management, security, A/V equipment, interpretation, design and set up of the conference venue, catering, transportation and equipment used during the event.

Departmental Public Relations

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn, Hatfield of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 297W, on departmental public relations, with which public relations consultancies his Department has entered into contracts since it was established.

Mike O'Brien: Kreab Gavin Anderson (formerly Gavin Anderson and Company) is contracted to DECC to provide expert strategic advice on the renewable energy finance community.

Departmental Reorganisation

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many of his Department's staff were based in  (a) his Department's London offices,  (b) the London offices of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and  (c) the London offices of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 March 2009.

Mike O'Brien: As at 1 March 2009 there were approximately 106 staff in the Department's London office and of those transferring to DECC from BERR and DEFRA there were approximately 320 in the London offices of DEFRA and approximately 480 in the London offices of BERR.

Energy Supply

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2160W, on energy supply, for what reasons he does not plan to place in the Library a copy of  (a) the agenda and  (b) the minutes of the meeting he held with the main energy supply companies on 17 November 2008.

Mike O'Brien: Ministers meet regularly with stakeholders as part of the commercial and policy development process, and these meetings are not public meetings.

Energy: Finance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has allocated under each budget heading for its expenditure on work relating to  (a) nuclear energy,  (b) combined heat and power and  (c) renewable energy in 2008-09.

Mike O'Brien: DECC allocated budgets in 2008-09 for  (a) nuclear energy 3 million;  (b) combined heat and powerseparate figures are not available except at disproportionate cost, and  (c) low carbon and renewable energy demonstration through the national Environmental Transformation Fund 76.5 million.

Energy: Meters

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in  (a) England and  (b) Hemel Hempstead constituency have (i) electric and (ii) gas prepayment meters.

Mike O'Brien: The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) monitors, and publishes information about gas and electricity prepayment customers. However, prepayment data is published for England, Scotland and Wales or, by individual energy supplier, not on a parliamentary constituency basis. In September 2008, the last period for which data has been published, the number of customers in England using prepayment meters was two million for gas and 2.9 million for electricity.

Enrichment Holdings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his Department are engaged in work arising from his Department's shareholding in Enrichment Holdings Limited.

Mike O'Brien: Three staff spend part of their time working on the shareholding in Enrichment Holdings Ltd. Taken together, the total time commitment on the shareholding for all three of them currently equates to no more than two days per week of one person's time.

Home Energy Saving Programme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what proportion of the 910 million home energy saving fund announced on 11 September 2008 he expects to be spent in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10;
	(2)  by what date he expects the first payment from the 910 million home energy saving fund announced on 11 September 2008 to have been made.

Joan Ruddock: On 11 September 2008 the Prime Minister announced the Home Energy Saving Programme which included a 20 per cent. uplift to the level of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and a new obligation, the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). These schemes operate as obligations on the energy suppliers (and the electricity generators in the case of CESP) to achieve carbon savings by encouraging households to take-up energy saving measures.
	The figure of 910 million refers to the estimated extra investment suppliers and generators will need to make in order to deliver these additional obligations. No Government funding is involved.
	In terms of CERT, Ofgem, the scheme administrator, does not collect data on energy supplier spend. However, based on the costs of the measures promoted by suppliers, we estimate that the overall spend by suppliers on delivering the 20 per cent. increase to the CERT obligations will be around 560 million. However, we expect the CESP to lead to supplier and generator investment of some 350 million by 2012.
	The proposals for CERT and CESP are currently subject to public consultation.

Members: Correspondence

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter of 23 October 2008 from the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 March 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to the right hon. Member on 21 March.

Ministerial Duties

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what public engagements each of the Ministers in his Department have attended since its creation.

Mike O'Brien: Public engagements undertaken by Ministers in the Department for Energy and Climate Change since its creation are set out as follows.
	 Secretary of State:
	KPMG Speech27 October 2008
	Environment Agency Annual Conference Speech25 November 2008
	Visit to National Grid in Wokingham26 November 2008
	CBI Conference: Speech2 December 2008
	Energy Speech at Imperial College9 December 2008
	Panel discussion with South African Minister at the Foreign Press Association16 December 2008
	Pre-Energy Meeting Dinner at Lancaster House18 December 2008
	London Energy Meeting19 December 2008
	Launch of the Consultation of the Severn Tidal Power Project26 January 2009
	British Council Climate Change Launch4 February 2009
	Oil and Gas All Party Group Reception9 February 2009
	PILOT Dinner9 February 2009
	PILOT10 February 2009
	Heat and Energy Savings Launch12 February 2009
	Launch of the Church of England's Carbon Fast25 February 2009
	DFID Conference: Securing our Common Future9 March 2009
	Nuclear APPG Energy Speech10 March 2009
	Renewable Energy Investors Dinner16 March 2009
	Reception to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Antartic Treaty23 March 2009
	 Mike O'Brien:
	Climate Change Forum Dinner9 October 2009
	Lynn and Inner Dowsing Wind Farm visit21 October 2008
	British Wind Energy Association BWEA30 Conference22 October 2008
	Coal Forum Meeting23 October 2008
	Reception: The Future of UK Coal3 November 2008
	Parliamentary ReceptionPolice Dependants' Trust5 November 2008
	Energetix Genlec Micro-CHP launch event10 November 2008
	Ministerial media drinks reception11 November 2008
	Dinner: Worcester Bosch and Intelligent Energy Group12 November 2008
	Chatham House Speech17 November 2008
	The Climate Change Forum17 November 2008
	EEF Low Carbon Economy Event19 November 2008
	Combined Heat and Power Association Annual Conference19 November 2008
	Green Business Events27 November 2008
	Lunch: Coal Industry Society1 December 2008
	Severn Tidal Power Regional Forum2 December 2008
	Christmas Luncheon: Police Dependants' Trust3 December 2008
	3M Parliamentary Dinner03 December 2008
	Nuclear Industry Association Energy Choices conference4 December 2008
	Industry Forum meeting (and lunch): Responsible Corporates and Energy Use4 December 2008
	Keynote Speech: Aldersgate Group4 December 2008
	Offshore visit to Buzzard Oil Rig9 December 2008
	Speech: Micropower Council Christmas Reception10 December 2008
	Reception: The NHS Confederation Christmas Reception10 December 2008
	Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG) Christmas Reception11 December 2008
	Launch of the Consultation of the Severn Tidal Power Project26 January 2009
	Parliamentary Forum Severn Tidal Power26 January 2009
	Nuclear Development Forum27 January 2009
	Visit to Sizewell29 January 2009
	Chatham House Speech5 February 2009
	Nuclear Lunch: Duke of York5 February 2009
	Chatham House SpeechMiddle East9 February 2009
	Oil and Gas All Party Group Reception9 February 2009
	Visit Torness Power Station10 February 2009
	Unite parliamentary group11 February 2009
	Coal UK Annual Conference26 February 2009
	Nuclear Industry Association Supply Chain Speech3 March
	Options for a New Britain12 March 2009
	Areva Supply Chain Event16 March 2009
	Renewable Energy Investors Dinner16 March 2009
	Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) International Seminar18/19 March 2009
	Parliamentary Forum Severn Tidal23 March 2009
	Nuclear Industry Association Dinner23 March 2009
	Renewable Energy Association speech26 March 2009
	Ports Investment Seminar30 March 2009
	UK Coal Forum31 March 2009
	Oil and Gas Trade Association Meeting1 April 2009
	Regional Visit for Severn Tidal2 April 2009
	 Lord Hunt:
	Low Carbon Cars International Experts Meeting27 October 2008
	Climate Change Forum Dinner17 November 2008
	Micropower Generation Council Reception10 December 2008
	New Local Government Network Energy, Climate Change and Innovation Event13 January 2009
	Energy Research Partnership14 January 2009
	Launch of Heat and Energy Saving Strategy12 February 2009
	Low Carbon Industrial Strategy Summit6 March 2009
	Sainsbury dinner on Climate Change and the Environment17 March 2009
	Heat and Energy Saving Consultation Stakeholder Workshop19 March 2009
	 Joan Ruddock:
	Lacors Climate Change conference21 October 2008
	Visit to Citizens Advice Bureau23 October 2008
	Climate Wise stakeholder event24 November 2008
	Act on C02 event27 November 2008
	National Energy Efficiency Awards2 December 2008
	Climate Change speaking engagement at Japanese Embassy15 December 2008
	Brokering a Global Deal on Climate Change speaking engagement26 January 2009
	National Right to Fuel Campaign stakeholder forum4 February 2009
	Heat and Energy Saving Launch12 February 2009
	Big Energy Shift event14 February 2009
	Sustainable Development Commission public sector event23 February 2009
	UK Green Building Council speaking event5 March 2009
	Middlesbrough Climate Change conference11 March 2009
	OECD event in Paris12 March 2009
	The Municipal Journal's National Conference on Carbon Reduction Commitment24 March 2009
	CERT workshop25 March 2009
	Npower's Green SOS finale25 March 2009
	Westminster Sustainable Business Forum26 March 2009
	Energy Saving Trust stakeholder event31 March 2009

Natural Gas: Storage

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of the current level of availability of finance on the delivery of new gas storage projects.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 April 2009
	The current financial climate makes raising funding for gas storage developments like other projects more difficult for some smaller developers but this is less of an issue for the larger ones. We are working closely with the industry to ensure that they make the most of alternative funding sources including the European Investment Bank.

Nuclear Power

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for future levels of nuclear energy generation in the UK.

Mike O'Brien: In January 2008 the Government published the nuclear White Paper which explains that new nuclear should have a role in the UK's future energy mix.
	Government are now taking active steps to facilitate nuclear new build as set out in the nuclear White Paper. No upper limit on the number of nuclear power stations that might come forward has been set. In the White Paper, Government also explained how it was feasible that the first new nuclear power station might start generation around 2018.

Nuclear Power

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the evidential basis is for the statement in the Prime Minister's speech on nuclear energy on 17 March 2009 that the complete lifecycle emissions from nuclear power are only between two and six per cent. of those of gas for every unit of electricity generated.

Mike O'Brien: The evidential basis for that figure is set out in the Sustainable Development Commission paper reference 'The Role of Nuclear Power in a Low Carbon Economy, Paper 2: Reducing CO2 Emissions - Nuclear and the Alternatives, March 2006', taken from the nuclear consultation document 'The role of nuclear power in a low carbon UK economy, May 2007' and as quoted in that document and illustrated in figure 2.1 on page 49.

Nuclear Power: Conferences

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place on his Department's website  (a) a list of all invitees and  (b) copies of all speeches and presentations made to the international nuclear fuel cycle conference at Lancaster House on 17 March.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 March 2009
	The International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference at Lancaster House (17-18( )March) was jointly organised by FCO and DECC. It was intended to promote further dialogue between supplier states and recipient statesnotably, the so-called 'nuclearising' stateson 'securing safe access to peaceful power'.
	Where speakers have given permission, copies of their speeches and presentations to the Conference are being placed on the FCO website. The conference speech given by the Prime Minster is, of course, already in the public domain and can be found on the Number 10 website.
	We shall also place a full list of participating states, NGOs and Parliamentarians on the FCO website.

Nuclear Power: Consultants

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1329-30, on nuclear power: consultants, what proportion of the amount of each contract had been recovered in fees on the latest date for which figures are available; and what proportion of the monetary value of each contract he expects to be recovered under fees regulations.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has engaged a range of external bodies and individuals to assist it with various technical aspects, process assurance and organisation. The proportion value of each consultancy contract recovered in fees as of 31 December 2008, and the percentage value expected to be recovered under the fee regulations is as follows:
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Contractors: (listed in columns 1431W)  Cost  Amount recovered at 31 December 2008  The proportion value of each contract recovered  Recoverable 
			 IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) 229,879.00 230,267.61 100 100 
			 Washington E and C Ltd 70,000.00 25,000.00 36 100 
			 EPRI 57,144.00 13,471.60 24 100 
			 Health Protection agency (formerly NRPB) 16,564.40 16,560.81 100 100 
			 Morson International 14,000.00 8,231.70 59 100 
			 Imperial College London 800.00 800.00 100 100 
			 OECD-NEA 352,312.84 39,672.30 11 100 
			 AMEC NNC 19,314.00 6.037.80 31 100 
			 Atkins Nuclear 22,483.02 4,905.48 22 100 
			 Other Contractors (used since) 
			 DYCODA, LLC 10,000.00 6,499.50 65 100 
			 Jacobsen Engineering Ltd. 104,400.00 0.00 0 100 
			 Serco Assurance 59,975.00 58,010.92 97 100 
			 University of Liverpool 2,605.81 2,606.07 100 100 
			 VTT Technical Research Centre Finland 66,600.00 70,403.02 106 100 
			 Process Review Board: (column 1432W) 
			 David Hughes 12,500.00 15,683.95 125 100 
			 John Raine 15,016.00 11,508.21 77 100 
			 Bernard Whittle 12,155.00 8,565.60 70 100 
			 Phillip Woodward 12,155.00 7,685.20 63 100 
			 Project Assurance Officer: (column 1432W) 
			 James Furness 29,500.00 3,848.96 13 100 
		
	
	Additional costs above contract value for VTT and David Hughes were incurred as a result of contract extension.
	The variance on the IAEA contract is due to currency exchange rate and bank charges.
	Values in table are contract values not annual costs.

Nuclear Power: Regulation

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells, of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1138W, on nuclear power: regulation, how many pages there are in the review of nuclear regulation by Dr Tim Stone to which he refers.

Mike O'Brien: 38 pages.

Sellafield

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will instruct his Department's Management Board to investigate the presentation of the projected contingent liabilities arising from the proposed indemnification arrangements for nuclear management partners management contract for Sellafield to Parliament.

Mike O'Brien: The presentation to Parliament of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's nuclear indemnity for Nuclear Management Partners in relation to the contract for the parent body organisation (PBO) for the Sellafield Site Licence Company was the responsibility of BERR and it would not, therefore, be appropriate for the management board of DECC to carry out an investigation. The facts of the case are well known and any further investigation is unnecessary.
	The Government are committed to following the correct procedures and for keeping the House informed and I am told that BERR did so in this case. Because there were elements of special urgency to achieve the contract award date for Sellafield, BERR followed a non-standard procedure in accordance with Treasury guidance to Departments in Managing Public Money. The then Minister of State for Energy at BERR wrote on 14 July 2008 to the chairmen the PAC and the Business Select Committee asking them to raise any concerns about the proposed indemnity within 14 working days.
	The Minister's intention was that this letter should be put in the House Libraries on the same day, but that did not happen due to an oversight by a member of staff. This was only noticed on 15 October and it was deposited in the Libraries of the House that same day.

Warm Front Scheme

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people awarded Warm Front grants in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England were asked to make an excess payment in 2008.

Joan Ruddock: The data showing the number of people awarded Warm Front grants in  (a) Shropshire,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England asked to pay a client contribution are given in the table. This is based on the most recent information available: the data runs from 1 April 2008 to 6 March 2009.
	
		
			  Area  Number of people asked to pay a contribution  Households assisted 
			 Shropshire 403 1,754 
			 West Midlands 10,957 30,435 
			 England 50,861 211,920

Warm Front Scheme

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average waiting time for work under the Warm Front scheme to be completed in the latest period for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: The average waiting times since the start of the current scheme in 2005 until 28 February 2009 are detailed as follows. These waiting times are within the Department's contractual guidelines, which state that heating measures will be installed within 120-days of survey and insulation measures within 40-days.
	
		
			  Days 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  Heating 
			 Installation 66.0 81.9 63.8 64.7 
			  
			  Insulation 
			 Installation 28.2 32.7 27.4 35.8

Courts: Repairs and Maintenance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1119W, on courts: repairs and maintenance, how much was spent on the refurbishment of court buildings in each of the last three years, excluding expenditure on the Royal Courts of Justice and on the Crown Court at Isleworth.

Jack Straw: Altogether in 2008-09 47 million was spent by HMCS on maintenance at all courts, 27 million on projects to increase capacity and to rationalise the estate (and 75 million on major new builds). HMCS does not define 'refurbishment projects' as a specific programme of work. Expenditure for the last three financial years from the maintenance and capacity programmes which could be classed as 'refurbishment' is as follows.
	
		
			  Financial year  Expenditure ( million) 
			 2006-07 8.0 
			 2007-08 1.8 
			 2008-09 1.5 
		
	
	This is mainly made up of the following projects:
	
		
			million 
			 Warwick Criminal Justice Centre (South) 2.5 
			 Shoreditch/Clerkenwell County Courts 1.3 
			 Hendon Magistrates Court 3.9 
			 Regional refurbishment spend 3.7

Departmental Buildings

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what properties  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies have sold since his Department's inception; and how many have been sold for housing developments.

Shahid Malik: Since Ministry of Justice's inception on 9 May 2007, there has been no sale of property from the Department or its non-departmental bodies. There have however, been 61 sales of property from its agencies.
	Her Majesty's Courts Service has sold 11 properties. They are:
	Flax Bourton Magistrates Court, The Courthouse
	Bedford, The Old Bank Site
	Newtown Magistrates Court, Back Lane
	Cheltenham County Court, County Court Road
	Bolton, 22 Queen Street
	Kingston upon Thames, Triangle Site
	Epsom County Court and Magistrates Court
	Sleaford Magistrates Court
	Manchester 184-186 Deansgate (Former County Court)
	Maidstone Wierton Grange (Former Judges Lodgings)
	Land at the rear of the former Marylebone Magistrates Court
	Her Majesty's Prison Service has made 50 sales which are nearly all former quarters but does also include a garage, a lease and a sewage treatment works. They are:
	29 Manor Crescent, Kingston
	92 Park Road, Birmingham
	125 Ashford Road, Feltham
	Garage, 27 Honeybourne, Long Lartin
	Sale of Lease, Newbrook and Brookhouse
	25 Victoria Park, Erlestok
	85 Perryn Road, Wormwood Scrubs
	97 Jebb Avenue, Brixton
	79 Jebb Avenue, Brixton
	2 Eastly Close, Eastwood Park
	67 Jebb Avenue, Brixton
	12 Bethune Ave, Pentonville
	33 Finch Road, Reading
	3 Anson Close, The Mount
	52 Welland Avenue, Gartree
	37 Burley Crescent, Ashwell
	42 South Road, Coldingley
	13 Birchlands Avenue, Brixton
	19 Maplestead Road, Brixton
	58 First Avenue, Wormwood Scrubs
	18 Park Road, Feltham
	2 Southgate Ave, Feltham
	67 Old Oak Road, Wormwood Scrubs
	18 Knox Close, Norwich
	Westview, Onley
	4 Stuart Crescent, Gartree
	143 Stanford Road, Brixton
	3 Kenilworth Avenue, Styal
	65 Onley Park, Onley
	16 Hawthorne Way, Highpoint
	9 Link Lane, Wandsworth
	Mill Farm, Feltham (Garage)
	31 Copley Way, Highdown
	42 Grenoble Gardens, Pentonville
	36 Heathfield Square, Wandsworth
	27 Finch Road, Reading
	66 Anderson Drive, Feltham
	8 West End Close, Winchester
	25 Hornby Close, Liverpool
	11 Montague Place, Leeds
	4 Lyham Close, Brixton
	Sewerage Works, Guys Marsh
	18 Southgate Avenue, Feltham
	6 Rudgate Park, Wealstun
	32 Perry Hill, Chelmsford
	22 Priorsgate, Lancaster Farms
	6 Priorsgate, Lancaster Farms
	7 Frewin Road, Wandsworth
	5 Elder Green, Wakefield
	6 Shepherds Croft, Portland
	In all, four properties have been sold for housing development. The Epsom county court and magistrates court were purchased with the intention of the site being used for additional housing development as was the land at the rear of the Marylebone magistrates court site. The sale of HMPS land at Gringley has been sold for housing development.

Departmental Mobile Phones and Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much has been spent on  (a) the purchase of and  (b) bills for (i) Blackberrys and (ii) other mobile telephones for (A) Ministers, (B) special advisers and (C) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005;
	(2)  how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and  (c) civil servants in his Department and its predecessor in each year since 2005; and at what cost;
	(3)  how many  (a) Blackberrys and  (b) other mobile telephones have been provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Michael Wills: Departmental laptops, mobile phones and BlackBerrys are provided through contracted arrangements with service providers. They are usually allocated from a central pool and returned to the pool for re-allocation when no longer required. The contracts provide fully managed services, which include the provision of equipment, service costs, helpdesk support, and for mobile phones, line rental, and call charges.
	The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) was established in May 2007. Numbers of BlackBerry and laptop users for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are given as follows. These are taken from the Department's central records which cover MOJ headquarters, and main business areas, including Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) and tribunals. The figures for mobile phone users cover MOJ headquarters only. Larger business areas, which include HMCS and Tribunals Service, manage mobile telephone provision locally, and these figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  2007-08 
			   Number 
			 BlackBerry users 510 
			 Laptop users 1,511 
			 Mobile phone users 961 
		
	
	
		
			  200 8-09 
			   Number 
			 BlackBerry users 878 
			 Laptop users 1,997 
			 Mobile phone users 863 
		
	
	In addition, the National Offender Management Service hold a central record of the following equipment:
	
		
			   Average laptop volumes  Average BlackBerry volumes  Average mobile telephone volumes 
			 2005 2,789 0 3,741 
			 2006 2,447 0 4,156 
			 2007 2,094 0 4,484 
			 2008 2,740 393 4,775 
		
	
	Costs incurred for mobile phones and BlackBerrys allocated to Ministers and special advisers have been identified from available records. These figures include the cost of call charges, rental and the original purchase cost, if applicable. Note: figures for BlackBerrys are only available for 2008-09.
	
		
			  2007-08: Mobile phones 
			
			 Ministers 3,005.70 
			 Special advisers 652.67 
		
	
	
		
			  2008 - 09 : Mobile phones 
			
			 Ministers 5,591.25 
			 Special advisers 1,113.11 
		
	
	
		
			  2008-09: BlackBerrys 
			
			 Ministers 2,930.25 
			 Special advisers 1,208.09 
		
	
	Other cost information is not readily available in a form to answer the question. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Ministry is continually seeking to ensure optimum use of resources. Recent initiatives include the One computer policy, which encourages staff to use only one deviceeither a laptop, desktop, or BlackBerry, and new approvals procedures for BlackBerrys have been introduced.

Feltham Young Offender Institution and Remand Centre

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) juveniles and  (b) young adults have been physically restrained in Feltham Young Offenders Institution in each month since January 2008.

David Hanson: Establishments in the young people's estate, commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) collect information on the number of Restrictive Physical Interventions (RPI) that occurs each month. In the young adult estate we report on the use of control and restraint. Figures are collected on the number of incidents of restraint that take place, not the number of young people or young adults restrained.
	A Report of an Independent Review of the Use of Restraint in Juvenile Secure Settings and the Government's response was published in December 2008. The Report recommended that HMPS provide staff with safe restraint techniques designed especially for young people and which do not reply on pain-compliance. The Government accept this recommendation and NOMS is developing a new Adapted Control and Restraint (C and R) technique specifically for young people which will form part of a comprehensive behaviour management system.
	Young People: Data on the number of times Restrictive Physical Intervention (RPI) was used on a young person (15-18 years old) at HMYOI Feltham from January 2008 to January 2009 is shown on the following table:
	
		
			   Average YP Population  RPI Incident 
			 January 2008 211 39 
			 February 2008 207 57 
			 March 2008 226 33 
			 April 2008 211 38 
			 May 2008 209 31 
			 June 2008 220 50 
			 July 2008 215 41 
			 August 2008 211 22 
			 September 2008 209 64 
			 October 2008 205 44 
			 November 2008 211 34 
			 December 2008 186 25 
			 January 2009 191 41 
		
	
	RPI is a Youth Justice Board (YJB) measure defined as any occasion when force is used with the intention of overpowering or to overpower a young person. Overpowering is defined as restricting movement or mobility.
	Young adult: Data on the number of times Control and Restraint (C and R) was used on a young adult (18-21 years old) at HMYOI Feltham from January 2008 to January 2009 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Average YA Population  C and R Incident 
			 January 2008 371 18 
			 February 2008 378 19 
			 March 2008 374 33 
			 April 2008 371 24 
			 May 2008 364 16 
			 June 2008 385 17 
			 July 2008 379 21 
			 August 2008 419 28 
			 September 2008 404 13 
			 October 2008 404 30 
			 November 2008 387 46 
			 December 2008 389 24 
			 January 2009 385 27 
		
	
	C and R is used as a last resort in order to bring a violent or refractory prisoner under control and the technique is only applied for as short a time as is possible.

Fines: Surcharges

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the expected income of the Victims' Surcharge Fund is in 2009-10.

Maria Eagle: The Victims Surcharge is a 15 charge levied on fines imposed in the magistrates and Crown courts in England and Wales on offences committed on or after 1 April 2007. Her Majesty's Courts Service have forecast that 8 million will be raised from the surcharge in 2009-10. The forecasts are based on the current numbers of fines imposed and enforcement achieved.

Housing: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the Land Registry expects to publish figures for the numbers of properties which were sold in  (a) February and  (b) March 2009.

Michael Wills: Land Registry publishes sales volume figures within its monthly house price index (HPI). The data is collected on all residential property transactions in England and Wales. It is expected that figures for February and March will be published on 1 June and 26 June 2009 respectively. The HPI is published at:
	www.landregistry.gov.uk
	and will be available at 11:00 hours on the aforementioned dates.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter of 13 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon on behalf of Mr. E. Penberton of Thornbury, on proposals relating to bailiffs.

Bridget Prentice: I replied to the letter from the hon. Member on behalf of Mr. E. Pemberton on 15 April 2009.

Pentonville Prison: Prison Escapes

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will hold an inquiry into the escape from HM Prison Pentonville on 27 March 2009.

David Hanson: The National Offender Management Service has a well established process for investigating serious incidents in prison, and all escapes are investigated. This was the only escape from inside a prison establishment in 2008-09. This reflects a significant achievement on behalf of staff working in prisons to protect the public.

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1070W, when he expects there to be sufficient capacity within the prison system to end the end of custody licence scheme.

Jack Straw: End of Custody Licence (ECL) will be brought to end as soon as there is sufficient capacity within the prison system to do so. I set out a comprehensive strategy for managing the increasing prison population in December 2007 and we have been pursuing that strategy vigorously. We are monitoring the position carefully and will end the scheme when sufficient headroom exists.

Prisoners Release: Reoffenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders released under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme have re-offended while on a tag in each year since the scheme's commencement; and what offences were committed by such offenders.

Jack Straw: Reoffending data in respect of offenders who are subject to the Home Detention Curfew are currently being audited. This exercise will be completed in May, when I will write to the hon. Member, providing the information he has requested and will place a copy of the reply in the Library.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average time taken by the Cardiff office of the Appeals Service was to review decisions on applications for  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) all benefits in the latest period for which information is available; and how many appeals submitted to that office for review were outstanding on 31 January 2009.

Bridget Prentice: In 2008-09 the average time taken by the First-tier Tribunal Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) office in Cardiff to review decisions on applications for  (a) disability living allowance was 10.84 weeks and  (b) all benefits was 11.85 weeks. The national target for SSCS appeals is to ensure that 75 per cent. of all appeals should receive a first hearing within 14 weeks of receipt. There were 9,455 appeals outstanding in the Cardiff office on 31 January 2009.

Central Office of Information: Directories

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1348-49W, on departments: publications, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Central Office of Information's IPO Directory or equivalent publication for 1996.

Liam Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
	 Letter from Peter Buchanan, dated April 2009:
	requesting a copy of the 1996 IPO directory published by the Central Office of Information.
	A copy has been placed in the libraries of the House.

Central Office of Information: Expenditure

Nick Hurd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer to Lord Cope of Berkeley of 19 November 2008,  Official Report,  House of Lords, column 193WA, on the Central Office of Information: expenditure, for what reasons the figure of 265.8 million expenditure on public relations, marketing and advertising given in the Answer differs from the 391 million expenditure figure published in the Central Office of Information's Annual Report and Accounts for 2007-08; and if he will publish an expenditure figure for 1996-97 using the same methodology as used to calculate the figure in the 2007-08 document.

Liam Byrne: The 265.8 million figure represents expenditure on public relations, marketing and advertising. The 391 million figure in the 2007-08 annual report is the total for all expenditure through COI, including for example costs relating to Directgov, public consultations, research, interactive services, publications and regional offices.
	In 1996-97 the total expenditure through COI was 125.9 million. The expenditure on public relations, marketing and advertising, unadjusted for inflation, was 81.2 million.
	The majority of the increased expenditure since 1996-07 is related to campaigns for public service recruitment, health and safety and new issues like climate change. The largest campaigns over the last year have been on Army recruitment, RAF recruitment, Act On C02, Alcohol Harm Reduction, Obesity and Road Safety.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what budget has been assigned to his Department's Real Help Now website for each of the next three years; and whether other Government departments have provided funding.

Liam Byrne: The Real Help Now website brings together information about the range of support available during the economic downturn and makes it easier for people and businesses to access that support.
	The development budget for the site in this financial year (2008-09) was less than 10,000 and falls within the existing Cabinet Office communications budget. Ongoing maintenance costs for the site will form part within the Cabinet Office communications budget which is yet to be agreed for the next three years. No other Departments have provided funding.

Regional Ministers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Permanent Secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the Parliamentary assistants to  (a) the Minister for the West Midlands and  (b) the Minister for London in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008.

Liam Byrne: No travel costs have been incurred by the Cabinet Office for the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister for the West Midlands. The Minister for London is not a Minister in the Cabinet Office.

Regional Ministers

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Cabinet Secretary has taken to inform the Director of the Government Office in each region of the provisions of his letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008 in respect of the circumstances in which a department may pay the travel costs of a Parliamentary assistant to a Regional Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Cabinet Secretary's letter of 2 December 2008 to permanent secretaries was copied to regional directors of the Government offices.

Voluntary Organisations

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the procedures are for people in Oxfordshire to access the volunteer brokerage scheme for unemployed people.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply.
	We believe that volunteering alongside looking for work can help to develop useful skills for work and keep jobseekers in touch with the labour market. Provided jobseekers are available for and actively seeking work, they can take part in unlimited volunteering work.
	Jobcentre Plus has over 2,400 partnerships with local third sector organisations across the country. These complement the service Jobcentre Plus offers, providing customers access to additional advice and support. Personal advisers in Oxfordshire have five main websites that they use and share with customers who would benefit from doing voluntary work. They are: Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA), Oxford Radcliffe Hospital Volunteers, Smart, Do-it and the Oxfordshire county council website.
	In addition to these existing partnerships, new measures to encourage volunteering as a means of developing skills for work are being introduced as part of the jobseeker's support at six months package from April 2009. Through this package, those who have been unemployed and claiming jobseeker's allowance for six months or more will have access to a range of support including recruitment subsidies, work-focused training, help to start a new business and access to work-focused volunteering placements delivered through third sector partners.
	Jobseekers who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for six months and would like to volunteer to maintain or develop their skills for work can discuss with their Jobcentre Plus personal adviser how they can make use of the extra support on offer from April 2009.

Banks: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  with reference to his Department's press notice of 19 January 2009 on the Asset Protection Scheme, what the agreed  (a) principles and  (b) guidelines for managing assets under the terms of the Asset Protection Scheme are;
	(2)  what documents were supplied by participants in the Asset Protection Scheme relating to the implementation, administration and compliance with the applicable remuneration policy; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such document;
	(3)  what criteria will be used to assess whether participants have a credible senior management team.

Ian Pearson: Further details on the operation of the Asset Protection Scheme, including the management and governance of protected assets, and remuneration arrangements for the managers of protected assets, are set out in the document on the Asset Protection Scheme that the Chancellor placed in the House Library on 27 February.

Banks: Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether bank assets under the asset loan guarantee scheme will be required to be on a balance sheet; what other requirements will apply to methods of accounting for them; and whether the accountancy treatment of such assets will be agreed with the Financial Reporting Council and the Accountancy Standards Board.

Ian Pearson: Assets are required to remain on the participant's balance sheet at all times in order to be protected under the Asset Protection Scheme.
	The banks participating in the Asset Protection Scheme will continue to be required to comply with International Financial Reporting Standards.

Banks: Ireland

Derek Conway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what safeguard measures have been agreed with his Irish counterpart on the removal of Financial Services Authority cover for UK Anglo-Irish bond holders; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: UK depositors (including retail bond holders) with Anglo-Irish bank are protected by the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to 100,000 (c90,000), and by an additional temporary, unlimited, Irish Sovereign Guarantee until 2010. The Deposit Guarantee limit in Ireland was raised from 20,000 to 100,000 per depositor per institution on 21 September 2008. As this is higher than the protection offered by the UK deposit protection scheme (the Financial Services Compensation Scheme FSCS), Anglo Irish Bank has withdrawn from 'topping-up' its deposit protection to the level applicable in the UK. Under the old topping up arrangements, the FSCS would compensate retail depositors for deposits between 20,000 and 35,000 (50,000 from 8 October 2008).

Departmental Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 21 July 2008,  Official Report, column 716W, on Departmental ICT, for what reasons his Department's IT systems and services are not accredited as conforming to the ISO 27001 standard; and what assessment he has made of the effect on data security of compliance with the standard.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury's IT systems and services have recently been accredited in line with HMG standards, which closely conform to ISO 27001.

Departmental Mobile Phones and Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much has been spent on  (a) the purchase of and  (b) bills for (i) BlackBerrys and (ii) other mobile telephones for (A) Ministers, (B) special advisers and (C) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005;
	(2)  how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and  (c) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005; and at what cost;
	(3)  how many  (a) BlackBerrys and  (b) other mobile telephones have been provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury no longer holds records of portable computers, BlackBerry and other mobile phone devices, made available for the use of individuals prior to the creation of a shared IT service for HM Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) in April 2007.
	Details of the dates of purchase of individual computers and mobile telephony devices are not available. Since 2007, a total of 472 laptop computers have been purchased centrally for use within HM Treasury, at a total cost of 270,000. Of these, three laptops are currently made available for the use of Government Ministers, and one for the use of a special adviser.
	There are also currently 207 BlackBerry devices in use across HM Treasury, including three by Ministers and five by special advisers. The total number of other mobile telephony devices is not available.
	The Treasury does not record the costs of acquiring or using BlackBerry devices (being all-in-one mobile phones, email devices, web browsers and organisers) or similar devices separately from other telecommunications costs, so the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Greg Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the planned 2010 changes to vehicle excise duty affecting purchases of new models of cars on automotive sales in  (a) 2010 and  (b) the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 16 March 2009
	Pre-Budget report 2008 confirmed that differential first year rates of vehicle excise duty (VED) would be introduced in 2010, in order to provide a stronger signal of vehicle emissions at the point of sale.
	As a result of these changes the Treasury expects sales of lower-emitting cars to increase; and sales of higher-emitting cars to decrease. The Treasury does not hold data in relation to specific models of new cars and does not make assessments for specific models.
	Vehicle excise duty reforms will continue to incentivise the purchase of lower-emitting cars in future years, helping to deliver the long-term EU target of average new cars emissions of 95 grams per kilometre by 2020. It is estimated that by 2020 around one million tonnes of carbon dioxide will be saved as a result of changes to VED rates and bands announced at pre-Budget report 2008.

Financial Institutions: Credit

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the proportion of  (a) mortgage and  (b) credit card lending carried out by non-bank lending that was institutions in each of the last three financial years;
	(2)  what meetings  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have had with (i) non-bank lending institutions and (ii) organisations representative of non-bank lending organisations in the last 12 months; and on what date each such meeting took place.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to my response on 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1420W, to the hon. Member for Solihull (Lorely Burt).

Individual Savings Accounts

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue has accrued to the Exchequer from the taxation of  (a) individual savings accounts and  (b) the interest on individual savings accounts since 6 April 2008.

Ian Pearson: ISAs are tax-advantaged savings products. No tax is payable on interest or capital gains arising on investments held within ISAs, and therefore no revenue accrues to the Exchequer as a result. In 2007-8 the tax relief provided through ISAs amounted to an estimated 2.4 billion.
	A small amount of revenue may accrue to the Exchequer in the case of uninvested cash which is held for a period of time within a stocks and shares ISA, however this is not a result of tax. This is because interest earned on this cash is subject to a flat 20 per cent. charge to prevent abuse of the ISA regime. HMRC does not collect specific data on the income from this charge.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 322W, on hon. Members: correspondence, when the Economic Secretary plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 23 October 2008 on inclusion of non-bank building societies in the financial support package for the banking industry.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 23 March 2009
	A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 22 October 2008 from the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead on finance and investment in Icelandic banks.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Eastbourne of 10 October, 25 November and 14 December 2008 and 4 February 2009 sent on behalf of his constituent, Mr M Wilberforce; and when he expects the matter raised in the correspondence to be resolved.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Robert Key: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Salisbury of 16 January 2009 on Northern Rock mortgage interest rate changes.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 26 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Mr D Powell of Iron Acton, on transfer of tax-free allowances.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 April.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 21 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Mr A Kybert of Tate, on banks' support for small businesses.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 24 February 2009 with regard to a constituent, reference 3-89302009; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply.

Stephen Timms: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 April.

Members: Correspondence

George Young: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury plans to reply to the letter of 15 October 2008 from the right hon. Member for North West Hampshire, on Icesave, and to the letters of reminder sent on 24 November 2008, 30 January 2009 and 26 February 2009.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what basis the eligibility of financial institutions to participate in the new guarantee scheme for residential mortgage-backed securities will be determined; and whether UK non-bank lenders will be permitted access to the scheme;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects on competition in the UK mortgage market of restricting access to the new guarantee scheme for residential mortgage-backed securities to banks and building societies;
	(3)  pursuant to the oral statement of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 482-6, on financial markets, whether any schemes being developed to encourage lending to businesses and consumers will be open to UK non-bank financial institutions;
	(4)  whether his Department plans to develop a scheme to support new lending by UK non-bank financial institutions.

Ian Pearson: On 19 January, the Government announced measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. These build on measures announced on 8 October last year.
	This included a guarantee scheme for asset-backed securities to help improve lenders' access to wholesale funding markets and help promote robust and stable markets in the medium term. The scheme draws on the recommendations made by Sir James Crosby and will commence in April 2009 subject to state aid approval.
	UK banks and building societies (i.e. deposit takers currently eligible for the Credit Guarantee Scheme) are eligible to participate in the new scheme. The Government will work closely with the industry and keep the scope of the scheme under review. Eligible institutions will be able to access the scheme subject to fulfilling conditions that will be announced by the Debt Management Office in due course.
	The Government have not, at this time, produced any assessment of the impact on competition in UK mortgages of limiting participation to deposit taking institutions. However, the measures announced on 19 January were put in place with the express purpose of boosting confidence in the banking sector and are part of ongoing, successful efforts to stabilise financial markets.

Personal Equity Plans

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was derived by the Exchequer from the taxation of personal equity plans in each year since such plans have been in operation.

Ian Pearson: Personal Equity Plans were tax-advantaged savings products, not revenue-raising schemes.
	When ISAs were introduced in 1999, PEPs initially continued to exist but could not be subscribed to, and new accounts could not be opened. However, from April 2008, all PEPs automatically became stocks and shares ISAs as part of the ISA reforms. PEPs are therefore no longer in operation.

Post Offices

Lorely Burt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions on underwriting of banking service offered through the Post Office network his Department has had.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	The Post Office provides a wide range of financial services. Details of the specific protections in place are available from the Post Office website:
	http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/contentl?catId=19300232mediaId=92400749

Public Sector: Pensions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 89-90W, on banks: finance, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Asset Purchase Scheme on levels of public sector pension scheme deficits.

Ian Pearson: Asset purchases undertaken by the Bank of England will increase the flow of money within the economy. This will help to revive the flow of credit within the economy, encourage spending and support economic activity. A prosperous and stable economy is vital for pension schemes to meet their obligations.
	Public sector pensions are predominantly run on a pay as you go basis. This means that pension liabilities are financed when they become due, mainly from contributions into pension schemes and otherwise out of other current Government revenues.
	For funded pension schemes, to the extent that asset purchases by the Bank of England lead to movements in bond yields, this will affect the present value of pension funds liabilities, and also the present value of bonds and other assets held by the fund. The overall effect on an individual fund's financial position will depend on how closely the fund's assets and liabilities are matched in terms of their exposure to interest rate risk. This will vary across funds, reflecting differences in the composition of each fund's assets and liabilities.

VAT: Construction

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will widen the range of construction products and the labour associated with their installation to which a reduced rate of value added tax applies.

Stephen Timms: All taxes are kept under review and any changes are made as part of the Budget process.
	VAT is governed by EU agreements entered into by successive Governments. Under these agreements EU member states may only apply a reduced VAT rate to a prescribed list of goods and services.
	The Government only apply reduced VAT rates where they believe these would provide well-targeted and cost-effective support for their policy objectives, compared to other measures.

Airports: High Speed Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is working on proposals for a draft National Policy Statement on  (a) airports and  (b) high speed rail.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport is planning to produce three national policy statements (NPS) on ports, national networks (i.e. strategic roads and railways, including strategic rail freight interchanges), and airports respectively.

Aviation

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department plans to issue a new version of the Aviation White Paper to take account of developments since 2004.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since the publication of The Future of Air Transport White Paper in 2003, the Department for Transport has undertaken a significant programme of work to ensure that the long-term strategy set out in the White Paper remains up-to-date, including: The Future of Air Transport Progress Report in 2006; the consultation on Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport and the decisions announced on 15 January 2009, and updated UK air passenger demand and CO2 forecasts in 2007 and 2009. A further progress report on the White Paper is due to be published within the next two years, which will take into account developments across the range of White Paper policies. The Government have also stated their intention to produce a National Policy Statement on Airports, based on the Air Transport White Paper, which satisfies the requirements of the 2008 Planning Act.

Cycleways: North West

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle lanes were introduced in local authority areas in the North West in each year since 1997.

Paul Clark: This information is no longer collected centrally by the Department for Transport as part of our drive to reduce the burden upon local authorities in respect of the information we request annually from them.
	However we do hold some historical information. This has been placed in the Libraries of the House and covers the whole of England. The data is not verified by the Department, may be incomplete and may include estimates.

Departmental Computers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many laptop computers have been provided to  (a) Ministers,  (b) special advisers and  (c) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005; and at what cost.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested on laptop computers for the Department for Transport and its agencies is contained in the following table:
	
		
			   DfT(c)( 1)  DVLA( 2)  HA( 3)  DSA  MCA  VOSA( 4)  VCA  GCDA 
			   Total  Cost  000  Total  Cost  000  Total  Cost  000  Total  Cost  000  Total  Cost  000  Total  Total  Cost  000  Total  Cost  000 
			 2005-06 349 405 58 45 120  74 50 13 15 n/a 28 34 0  
			 2006-07 195 216 105 86 423  33 22 25 24 n/a 12 15 12 6 
			 2007-08 210 229 83 83 31  33 22 540 662 n/a 30 36 4 3 
			 2008-09 301 320 406 278 0  301 203 200 82 n/a 26 31 5 3 
			 (1) Totals include two in 2005-06 and one in 2007-08 for Ministers and one in 2005-06 and one in 2008-09 for special advisers. (2) 2008-09 figure high due to Tech Refresh project. (3) Separate costs for Laptops can be provided only at disproportionate cost. (4) The agency made use of a total of approximately 1,050 laptops across the period, but these were provided as part of a wider IT contract and were not purchased or owned by VOSA. Separate costs not available.

Driving Offences: Fines

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speeding tickets have been issued on the basis of evidence from the average speed check cameras on the A13 between Basildon and Southend since their inception.

Jim Fitzpatrick: This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Since the 1 April 2007 the deployment of safety cameras has been the responsibility of individual local partnerships. The average speed cameras on the A13 were deployed in 2008. The number of speeding tickets issued will therefore be a matter for the Essex road safety partnership.

Freight

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much freight has been carried by  (a) road,  (b) rail,  (c) water and  (d) air in each region in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Published regional freight data is available from the following sources.
	 (a) Table 7.1 of Regional Transport Statistics 2008 shows goods lifted by region of origin. Table 7.3 of Regional Transport Statistics 2008 shows goods moved by region of origin.
	The publication is available on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/regionaldata/rts/regtranstats2008
	 (b) Rail freight data by region is not available.
	 (c) Table 7.5 of Regional Transport Statistics 2008 gives a regional breakdown of foreign and domestic sea freight traffic at UK ports for the years 2004 to 2007. Data for earlier years back to 1999 is available from earlier editions.
	Regional Transport Statistics editions are available on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/regionaldata/rts/
	These tables do not include inland waterways traffic, which is not available by region. Table 5.10 in Transport Statistics Great Britain shows goods lifted on inland the major waterway routes. Copies of Transport Statistics Great Britain have been placed in the House Library and are also available on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/tsgb/
	 (d) Table 8.3 in Regional Transport Statistics shows freight lifted at UK airports by region for 1997-2007. Freight lifted includes both picked up and set down.
	2008 data for each airport is available on the CAA website in table 13.2 at:
	http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=80pagetype=88sglid=3fld=2008Annual

Heathrow Airport: Public Consultation

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 805W, on Heathrow Airport: public consultation, if he will place in the Library a copy of the supplementary analysis of the responses from stakeholders.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The supplementary analysis was undertaken solely for the purposes of presenting internal advice. The full report of consultation responses by Ipsos/MORI/Detica has been published, and individual responses have been available for inspection since the Heathrow decisions were announced.

High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the availability of funding for a high-speed rail line.

Paul Clark: High Speed Two has been formed to help develop the case for high speed services between London and Scotland, and will report by the end of the year. The report will include advice to the Government on financing and construction proposals.

High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the letter which he placed in the Library from the Permanent Secretary of his Department to a director of High Speed Two Limited of 14 January 2009, whether High Speed Two Limited provides monthly written reports to his Department.

Paul Clark: High Speed Two provides regular reports to the Department for Transport, and Sir David Rowlands meets regularly with the Minister of State, to report the progress being made.
	High Speed Two also publishes a regular newsletter to update and engage with stakeholders.

High Speed Trains

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of dwellings that would need to be demolished to permit the High Speed Two project to be implemented; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to consult  (a) Buckinghamshire County Council,  (b) Aylesbury Vale District Council,  (c) Wycombe District Council,  (d) Chiltern District Council and  (e) South Banks District Council on the High Speed Two proposal; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether he plans to consult  (a) the Chilterns Conservation Board and  (b) the National Trust on the High Speed Two proposal; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect on land owned by the National Trust of the High Speed Two proposal; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: High Speed Two has been formed to develop the case for high speed services between London and Scotland. As a first stage, High Speed Two will report by the end of the year with a proposed route from London to the West Midlands, setting out any necessary options with appropriate environmental, social and economic assessments. This will form a sound basis for a public consultation on the proposal, including options, for a London to West Midlands route during the course of 2010, should the Government decide to proceed.
	High Speed Two are engaging with stakeholders during the course of this work, and I would encourage any interested parties to contact Sir David Rowlands and his team directly.

Light Dues: Northern Ireland

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects the Republic of Ireland to meet the cost of its Light Dues.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK and Irish governments are engaged in constructive dialogue to agree long term funding arrangements for the provision of aids to navigation in the Republic of Ireland.
	To this end, I am meeting the Irish Transport Minister in Dublin in the near future. The timescale for reaching and implementing a lasting agreement will be among the matters we expect to discuss.

Lorries: Driver Information Systems

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with manufacturers of vehicle satellite navigation equipment on identification of routes inappropriate for heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Department for Transport officials have been reviewing a number of issues related to route guidance systems. In March 2009 officials attended a meeting involving local authorities, digital map providers and freight haulage interests on how to best address the lorry routeing issue.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the cost involved in the manufacturing of cars with daytime running lights.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In 2006 the Department for Transport commissioned TRL to review the studies on daytime running lights that were carried out on behalf of the European Commission. The cost to install dedicated daytime running lamps was estimated to be 25 Euros per car.

Motor Vehicles: Testing

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 806W, on motor vehicles: testing, what checkpoint sites are used by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As previously mentioned in my answer of 13 March 2009, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) uses over 1,000 checkpoint sites, some of these sites are temporary and some are permanent. A list of the permanent sites has been placed in the Libraries of the House. VOSA wishes to withhold the list of temporary sites as this information would affect the level of enforcement of non-compliant operators if it became available.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 300W, on parking: fees and charges, what comments were received from other Departments on the proposals for regulations for workplace policy levy schemes.

Paul Clark: The proposals for regulations were discussed in the usual way by Cabinet. Information relating to Cabinet Committees, including Cabinet Committee papers, are generally not disclosed; as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Railways

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules and regulations would apply to a Translohr guided rail system established in England.

Paul Clark: holding answer 16 March 2009
	It is not possible to provide definitive guidance on the rules and regulations applicable to the Translohr-guided rail system. However, if such a system was allowed to run on a highway in England it could be considered as vehicular traffic and, therefore, in such a case, all relevant rules and regulations for road vehicles would apply accordingly.

Railways

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to bring forward capital expenditure on rail infrastructure projects.

Paul Clark: Capital expenditure on rail infrastructure projects is primarily the responsibility of Network Rail which is funded in accordance with the Office of Rail Regulation's determination of its income requirement. This income requirement is derived from the outputs set out in the High Level Output Specification set out by the Government in its White PaperDelivering a Sustainable Railway.
	We are also bringing forward around 300 million for an additional 202 train carriages to relieve overcrowding, pursuant to the previously announced High Level Output Specification. The trains are due to enter service by 2012 subject to negotiations with train operators.

Railways

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of railway journeys were undertaken in first class in each of the last 10-years.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. However, this information should be available from the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). My hon. Friend should contact ATOC at the following address for a response to his question.
	Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC)
	3rd Floor
	40 Bernard Street
	London
	WC1N 1BY

Railways

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of railway carriages were built and furbished as  (a) first class and  (b) second class in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested; it may be available from the rolling stock leasing companies, individual train operators or the Association of Train Operating Companies.

Railways: Fares

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average change in the cost of  (a) first class and  (b) second class unregulated rail fares was in each of the last 10-years.

Paul Clark: This information is contained in the Fares Index in National Rail Trendsavailable from the ORR website at:
	http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/rolling-c5-fares.pdf

Railways: Franchises

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 990W, on railways: franchises, what timetable has been set for completion of the research.

Paul Clark: As described in the previous answer of 17 March 2009, the current research project into rail passenger demand forecasting is due to conclude by the end of 2009. Work is currently on schedule.

Railways: Freight

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 835W, on railways: freight, what his Department's policy is on where on a stretch of motorway rail freight interchanges should be sited.

Paul Clark: The Strategic Rail Authority document 'Strategic Rail Interchange Policy' of 2004, which can be found at:
	www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/railfreight/railfreightinterchange.pdf
	is still the basis for the Department's policy on rail freight interchanges. It does not specify locations on the motorway network where rail freight interchanges should be sited, but does state that such interchanges should have high quality links to the motorway and trunk road network.

Railways: Freight

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 835W, on railways: freight, what the position of  (a) the Highways Agency and  (b) Kent Highways was on the proposed Kent International Gateway development; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The position of the Highways Agency is that further clarifications are required from the developer about the impact of the proposed development. At present the Highways Agency's view is that the proposal might be detrimental to safety and journey time reliability at Junction 8 of the M20 and the developer might be able to offer mitigation measures to offset this issue. The position of Kent Highways is a matter for Kent county council.

Roads: EC Action

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 113-4WS, on the EU Transport Council, (1) what recent progress has been made in respect of the EU's proposed directive on cross-border enforcement in the field of road safety; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the written ministerial statement of 8 October 2008,  Official Report, column 18WS, on the EU Transport Council, what progress has been made on overcoming the practical and legal difficulties of cross-border enforcement for non-resident drivers escaping financial penalties for road safety infringements; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The proposed EU Directive on Cross Border Enforcement is not on the Transport Council agenda under the current presidency and I am not aware of any further work having been done on the proposed Directive following the December Transport Council.

Roads: Yorkshire and Humberside

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council on road safety improvements on the A1079.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has had no recent discussions with East Riding of Yorkshire council regarding road safety improvements on the A1079.

Rolling Stock: Manpower

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Derby North of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1847W, on rolling stock, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of new rolling stock on numbers of jobs servicing and maintaining the rolling stock to be replaced.

Paul Clark: Agility Trains has suggested that around 1,400 jobs in train maintenance will be safeguarded by their Super Express proposal. Across the network, the demand for train maintenance personnel will increase as the Department for Transport invests in the new Super Express fleet, the HLOS requirements, the new Thameslink and the new Crossrail fleets.

Rolling Stock: South East

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional rolling stock is planned for the Sevenoaks to London railway line.

Paul Clark: Southeastern will be a recipient of some of the new rolling stock that is being procured for the Thameslink Programme. Sevenoaks to London will be one of the lines on which this stock is likely to be deployed.

Transport: Royal Family

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who decides the mode of transport appropriate for official journeys by a member of the Royal Family.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Royal Travel Office in conjunction with the Royal Household decides the mode of transport appropriate for a journey by a member of the royal family. The decision on the mode takes account of safety, security, value for money, the best use of principals time, the requirements of the visit, the avoidance of disruption to the public, environmental considerations and appropriateness for the occasion.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 895W, on departmental carbon emissions, whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme.

Patrick McFadden: BERR has had two recent reviews carried out by the Carbon Trust, on its headquarters estate. The second, run in April to May 2008, was a follow on to previous work done under the energy efficiency accreditation scheme (EEAS) which closed in March 2008. As a result of the second review, BERR was given certification under the new 'Carbon Trust Standard'; this was awarded to the Department on 2 July 2008. On the basis that these reviews had been done, the Department did not feel it necessary to take up the Carbon Trust management programme.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent progress his Department has made towards its target for the energy efficiency per square metre of its Estate; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: BERR are continuing to work towards achieving the energy efficiency targets expressed in the Sustainable Operation of the Government Estate (SOGE) framework. Our main strategy has been to gain efficiencies through a reduction in the physical size of its estate and the number of buildings occupied. As a result the whole BERR estate has been reduced by 58 per cent. and its overall carbon footprint by 26 per cent. since the baseline year of 1999-2000.
	As we are working the remaining buildings harder, through better space optimisation, energy use has risen slightly. We are addressing this through improved utilisation of building management systems; installing new environmental and lighting controls during 2008-09, together with introduction in January 2009 of new automated monitoring and targeting systems, which will give significant savings over the next few years.
	Furthermore, in mid-February 2009, BERR installed two sets of photovoltaic arrays on the roof of its 1 Victoria Street HQ building and carried out a thermal imaging study. We are currently evaluating the latter study to see if there are additional means of improving the performance of the HQ building.
	BERR's HQ estate recently received the 'Carbon Trust Standard' certification.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much  (a) electricity,  (b) gas and  (c) other fuel was used by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies since the establishment of his Department; and how much was used by each of the regional development agencies in each of the last 10 years.

Patrick McFadden: Since the inception of BERR in June 2007, the Department has used the following amounts of electricity and gas on its HQ estate up to the end of February 2009.
	
		
			   kWh 
			 Electricity 19,706,096 
			 Gas 9,264,323 
		
	
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House and they will respond to you directly.
	The following tables contain details of the amounts spent by each regional development agency on electricity, gas and other fuels during the past 10 years. Where there is a blank entry (), figures are unavailable and would incur disproportionate cost to produce. The RDAs do not record units used.
	
		
			  Advantage West Midlands 
			  000 
			   Electricity  Gas  Other fuel 
			 2007-08 67 12 0 
			 2006-07 51 6 0 
			 2005-06 72 9 0 
			 2004-05 50 7 0 
			 2003-04 42 7 0 
			 2002-03 34 4 0 
			 2001-02 29 3 0 
			 2000-01
			 1999-2000
			 1998-99
			 Total 345 48 0 
		
	
	
		
			  East of England Development Agency 
			  000 
			   Electricity  Gas  Other fuel 
			 2007-08 44 7 0 
			 2006-07 76 9 0 
			 2005-06 46 2 0 
			 2004-05 24 3 0 
			 2003-04 28 2 0 
			 2002-03 18 2 0 
			 2001-02 13 2 0 
			 2000-01 8 1 0 
			 1999-2000
			 1998-99
			 Total 257 28 0 
		
	
	
		
			  East  Midlands  Development Agency 
			  000 
			   Electricity  Gas  Other fuel 
			 2007-08 53 24 0 
			 2006-07 50 25 0 
			 2005-06 61 16 0 
			 2004-05 43 13 0 
			 2003-04 23 5 0 
			 2002-03 32 7 0 
			 2001-02
			 2000-01
			 1999-2000
			 1998-99
			 Total 261 90 0 
		
	
	
		
			  London Development Agency 
			   Total fuel cost (000) 
			 2007-08 128 
			 2006-07 145 
			 2005-06 115 
			 2004-05  
			 2003-04  
			 2002-03  
			 2001-02  
			 2000-01  
			 1999-2000 (1) 
			 1998-99 (1) 
			 Total 388 
			 (1) LDA not established. 
		
	
	The LDA does not record fuel expenditure in the manner requested. As a result, it would be unable to break down its energy spend into separate components without incurring disproportionate cost. Figures for 2001-02 to 2004-05 are not available as during this period fuel bills were included within a general service charge.
	
		
			  North West  Development Agency 
			  000 
			   Electricity  Gas  Other fuel 
			 2007-08 53 49 0 
			 2006-07 112 47 0 
			 2005-06 68 40 0 
			 2004-05 70 20 0 
			 2003-04 49 39 0 
			 2002-03 46 1 0 
			 2001-02 35 4 0 
			 2000-01 9   
			 1999-2000
			 1998-99
			 Total 442 200 0 
		
	
	
		
			  One North East 
			   Total fuel cost (000) 
			 2007-08 160 
			 2006-07 169 
			 2005-06 165 
			 2004-05 106 
			 2003-04 98 
			 2002-03 44 
			 2001-02 46 
			 2000-01 45 
			 1999-2000 57 
			 1998-99  
			 Total 890 
		
	
	One North East does not record fuel expenditure in the manner requested. As a result, it would be unable to break down its energy spend into separate components without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  South East England Development Agency 
			  000 
			   Electricity  Gas  Other fuel 
			 2007-08 105 29 0 
			 2006-07 87 12 0 
			 2005-06 79 11 0 
			 2004-05 48 5 0 
			 2003-04 45 7 0 
			 2002-03 44 7 0 
			 2001-02 39 6 0 
			 2000-01 35 6 0 
			 1999-2000 32 5 0 
			 1998-99
			 Total 514 88 0 
		
	
	
		
			  South West England Regional Development Agency 
			   Total fuel cost (000) 
			 2007-08 106 
			 2006-07 93 
			 2005-06 87 
			 2004-05 29 
			 2003-04 14 
			 2002-03 16 
			 2001-02  
			 2000-01  
			 1999-2000  
			 1998-99  
			 Total 345 
		
	
	SWERDA does not record fuel expenditure in the manner requested. As a result, it would be unable to break down its energy spend into separate components without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Yorkshire Forward 
			   Electricity  Gas  Other fuel 
			 2007-08 70 14 0 
			 2006-07 71 7 0 
			 2005-06 60 10 0 
			 2004-05 63 9 0 
			 2003-04 48 9 0 
			 2002-03 56 9 0 
			 2001-02 51 9 0 
			 2000-01
			 Total 419 67 0 
		
	
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 13 April 2009:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 25 March 2009, UIN 267342, to the Minister of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Since the inception of BERR in 2007, Companies House has used the following amounts of fuel:
	
		
			  kWh 
			  Financial year  Electricity  Gas 
			 2007-08 5,315,618 1,708,260 
		
	
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 13 April 2009:
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service how much (a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) other fuel was used by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies since the inception of his Department; and how much was used by each of the regional development agencies in each of the last 10 years.
	The Insolvency Service has consumed the following energy to date since the formation of BERR in June 2007:
	
		
			  kWh 
			 Electricity 2,109,082 
			 Gas 934,211 
			 Other Fuel 0

Departmental Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer of 12 January,  Official Report, columns 462-63W, on redundancy, how many staff left his Department under staff exit schemes with a severance package worth  (a) between 100,000 and 125,000,  (b) between 125,001 and 150,000,  (c) between 150,001 and 200,000,  (d) between 200,001 and 250,000,  (e) between 250,001 and 500,000,  (f) between 500,001 and 1,000,000 and  (g) over 1,000,000 in each year since 2005-06.

Patrick McFadden: The following table sets out details of staff who left the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform under staff exit schemes with a severance package.
	
		
			  Severance package  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 100,000-125,000 9 12 4 25 
			 125,000-150,000 2 2 3 7 
			 150,000-200,000 3 10 4 17 
			 200,000-250,000 1 6 3 10 
			 250,000-500,000 0 5 3 8 
			 500,000 plus 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 15 35 17 67 
		
	
	For staff leaving on compulsory or flexible early severance terms, or in receipt of a statutory redundancy payment, the size of the package is simply the lump sum compensation payment made.
	For staff leaving on compulsory, flexible or approved early retirement terms, the size of the package includes any lump sum compensation payment made on departure (compulsory terms only) and also the capitalised cost of paying a pension or annual compensation payment (ACP) before pension age, the cost of any pension enhancement (compulsory and flexible terms only) and the cost of bringing forward the payment of the pension lump sum (for those in classic). These figures are therefore the initial provision for the early departure liabilities caused by the staffs departures. They will include any cash payments made during the period.

Departmental Responsibilities

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 523W, on the Corporate Governance Unit, when his Department's Corporate Law and Governance Directorate was established; what the remit of the Directorate is; what the cost to the public purse has been of the Directorate in each year of its operation; what the job title is of each member of staff of the Directorate; and which Ministers other than the Secretary of State have had responsibility for the Directorate since its establishment.

Patrick McFadden: BERR and its predecessor Departments have been responsible for Company Law issues since the 19th century. The name Corporate Law and Governance Directorate (CLG) was adopted in 2005 when responsibility for company investigations transferred to the Insolvency Service. Highlights of CLG work appear on the Department's annual report (Sections 2.91-2.94)
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file47097.pdf
	My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State currently has responsibility for company law issues in succession to my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Development and Consumer Affairs. The directorate also houses BERR's Better Regulation Unit, which reports to the Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting in succession to the Minister for Competitiveness and Small Business. In 2007-08 the running costs of the directorate were 2,198,000.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many staff in his Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: The total number of staff recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December over the past five years is 12.
	It is not possible to give a breakdown for each individual year in order to avoid possibly revealing the identity of the individual staff members.

EU Internal Trade

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many cases the Action Single Market/UK SOLVIT centre had handled on the latest date for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: The latest figures available for the number of cases handled on SOLVIT is for the period January to December 2008. During that period the Action Single Market/UK SOLVIT Centre dealt with 247 cases.

India: Overseas Trade

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to increase trade between the UK and India; how much his Department and its predecessor spent on the promotion of trade between the UK and India in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the principal Government organisation for the promotion of trade and Investment with India. In 2007 UKTI increased its staff in India by 18 per cent. to better support British business and inward investment. In 2007-08 and 2008-09 UKTI allocated grant funding to the newly created UK India Business Council (UKIBC)a business led organisation specifically tasked with supporting Government in the promotion of bilateral trade, business and investment with the two countries. We have also refreshed the UK-India Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO) dialogue, which my noble Friend the Secretary of State co-chaired with Minister Nath this January as part of a wider trade and investment visit to India.
	We continue actively to develop trade and investment links, through the ongoing work of our team in India and the UK, and have commissioned research by the UKIBC into the opportunities represented by India's second tier citiesthe results of which will be released shortly. We are also recruiting a supply chain specialist and have put in place a new initiative, Fiscal Compass, which will help UK companies capitalise on overseas business opportunities arising from fiscal stimulus spending, including in India. My noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Investment is planning to visit India later this year, to further promote trade and investment.
	
		
			  UKTI annual programme expenditure  ()( 1)  on the promotion/support of trade with India over the last 5 years was: 
			
			 2008-09 (2)2,033,261 
			 2007-08 1,964,507 
			 2006-07 1,842,356 
			 2005-06 1,213,472 
			 2004-05 872,234 
			 (1) Figures may slightly under-report the total programme expenditure on India as they do not take account of UKTI multi-market initiatives where the India costs are not specifically identified. (2) Estimated outturn. 
		
	
	
		
			  Staff and establishment costs ,( 1)( , 2)  for the UKTI team in India over the last 2 years were: 
			
			 2007-08 7,018,563.28 
			 2006-07 5,028.766.97 
			 (1) 2008-09 figures are not yet available. (2) Staff and establishment cost for UKTI in the years prior to 2006-07 were included in the general FCO compliment in India and are therefore not specifically identifiable.

India: Overseas Trade

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assistance his Department provides to Indian businesses wishing to  (a) invest in the UK and  (b) take part in joint ventures with UK companies; how much was made available for these purposes in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: UKTI, within BERR, provide services to companies not only from India, but across the globe. This includes: promoting the attractiveness of the UK to investors; a free consultancy service to foreign owned companies wishing to locate in the UK; direct access to Government Departments (and HMG policy) and introductions to private sector advisors wherever possible. Relationships between UKTI staff in London and overseas and with the UK regions provide a seamless service to clients.
	UKTI, working with the regional development agencies and the devolved administrations, maintains links with strategic companies once they have invested in the UK via the Investor Development programme. UKTI systematically gathers feedback on issues of concern to established inward investors bringing these to the attention of relevant Government Departments and Ministers as appropriate.
	UKTI do not offer specific services around joint ventures or mergers and acquisitions but provide services to assist with the trade and expansion efforts of companies that establish in the UK. UKTI does not provide finance to companies locating in the UK, but does provide strategic and operational advice via the UKTI/RDA/private sector networks.

Legal Opinion

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost was of external legal services engaged by his Department in each year since its establishment.

Patrick McFadden: Since this Department was established in July 2007, it has spent the following on External Legal Services:
	
		
			   million 
			 2007-08(1) 9.8 
			 2008-09(2) 8.2 
			 (1) From July onwards. (2) Up to 22 January 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 29 January 2009, transferred from the Department for Communities and Local Government on 9 February 2009, on business diversification grants.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 March 2009
	I responded to the hon. Member on 6 April 2009.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 12 February regarding a constituent.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 20 March 2009
	This matter falls under the responsibility of the Insolvency Service and I have asked the chief executive to reply direct to my hon. Friend.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter of 16 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Northavon, sent on behalf of Mr. C Simpson of Pucklechurch, on Royal Mail.

Patrick McFadden: I responded to the hon. Member on 27 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 24 February 2009 with regard to a constituent; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply.

Patrick McFadden: I responded to my hon. Friend on 31 March. I apologise for the delay caused by the current high volumes of correspondence.

Minimum Wage

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of people in  (a) the UK,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) Tamworth constituency whose income rose following the introduction of the national minimum wage.

Patrick McFadden: The National Minimum Wage was introduced in 1999. The following numbers relate to the number of workers who were earning below the National Minimum Wage before its introduction.
	Information on earnings is taken from the ONS' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) dataset for 1998. Information for individual parliamentary constituencies is not readily available in the ASHE dataset, however, information is available on a government office region basis.
	 (a) The number of workers in the UK that stood to benefit directly in the form of higher hourly wages from the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in April 1999 is estimated to be around 1,000,000.
	 (b) In the West Midlands, 100,000 workers were estimated to benefit directly from higher hourly wages as a result of the introduction to the National Minimum Wage in April 1999.

Morocco: Overseas Trade

Joan Walley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what advice his Department issues to UK firms on trade with Morocco which involves exploitation of resources located in Western Sahara.

Gareth Thomas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) are able to provide British companies with detailed advice concerning business opportunities in Morocco when requested. They would also be advised of the sensitivities in respect of Western Sahara.

Motor Industry: France

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions the Secretary of State has had with the European Commission on the compatibility with state aid rules of proposals by the French government to provide loans to the French motor industry.

Gareth Thomas: My noble Friend the Secretary of State has discussed state aid matters with Commissioner Kroes on a number of occasions. On each occasion he has stressed the need to take enforcement action against abuses of the state aid rules by any member state.

Royal Mail: Pensions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of the  (a) membership and  (b) estimated deficit of the Royal Mail pension scheme is accounted for by employees of Post Office Ltd.

Patrick McFadden: Over time there have been a number of changes in the organisation and structure of the Royal Mail group of companies. This makes a clear and accurate split of the past membership and deficit of the pension scheme for Post Office Ltd. difficult to establish.
	Under Government proposals to support the pension scheme (as part of the package of measures currently before Parliament in the Postal Services Bill) members of the scheme who do, or did, work for Post Office Limited will be treated on an equivalent basis to other Royal Mail employees.
	As at 31 March 2008 out of a total 181,276 permanent Royal Mail employees, 9,163 were engaged on Post Office Ltd. business. This represents approximately 5 per cent. of the current workforce.

Council Tax

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many second homes there were in each council tax band in each region in England in each year from 1997 to 2008.

John Healey: Details of the number of second homes in each council tax band in each region in England since 2004 are given in the following table. Information for previous years is not available. The data are a snapshot taken in the autumn of each year and are as reported to Communities and Local Government by all billing authorities in England on their annual Council Taxbase (CTB) returns.
	
		
			   Bands  
			   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  Total 
			  1 November 2004  
			 North East 2,661 1,116 1,041 696 372 170 112 21 6,189 
			 North West 5,299 3,097 3,273 2,292 1,527 877 734 89 17,188 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4,778 3,047 2,911 1,988 1,204 463 297 48 14,736 
			 East Midlands 4,163 1,908 1,626 1,050 504 322 249 37 9,859 
			 West Midlands 3,070 1,759 1,409 988 727 400 327 72 8,752 
			 East of England 7,664 5,312 5,753 3,762 2,352 1,351 1,104 165 27,463 
			 London 1,135 4,241 9,280 9,365 8,328 6,537 8,851 4,736 52,473 
			 South East 6,797 6,516 9,033 7,146 5,040 3,232 3,411 954 42,129 
			 South West 9,819 8,590 9,813 8,447 6,394 3,680 3,103 551 50,397 
			   
			  10 October 2005  
			 North East 3,221 1,238 1,204 791 418 178 119 19 7,188 
			 North West 5,674 3,376 3,462 2,398 1,611 955 730 89 18,295 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,367 3,353 3,189 2,205 1,281 496 330 46 16,267 
			 East Midlands 4,041 1,940 1,725 1,038 563 331 277 53 9,968 
			 West Midlands 6,064 3,151 2,153 1,410 1,038 499 385 74 14,774 
			 East of England 8,191 5,242 5,797 3,816 2,373 1,416 1,159 187 28,181 
			 London 1,156 3,997 8,924 8,861 7,982 6,074 8,330 4,496 49,820 
			 South East 6,849 6,294 8,713 7,382 5,079 3,113 3,235 923 41,588 
			 South West 9,493 8,607 9,937 8,498 6,471 3,624 3,065 555 50,250 
			   
			  9 October 2006  
			 North East 3,279 1,315 1,262 783 430 184 127 19 7,399 
			 North West 5,459 3,385 3,589 2,477 1,632 971 775 97 18,385 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,380 3,471 3,325 2,196 1,305 537 325 46 16,585 
			 East Midlands 3,973 2,140 1,823 1,102 554 320 281 59 10,252 
			 West Midlands 6,247 3,390 2,414 1,640 1,122 546 409 88 15,856 
			 East of England 8,212 5,343 5,895 3,830 2,385 1,414 1,159 195 28,433 
			 London 1,233 4,253 9,316 9,063 7,992 5,972 7,868 4,284 49,981 
			 South East 6,915 6,376 8,745 7,326 5,160 3,144 3,137 931 41,734 
			 South West 9,821 8,871 10,170 8,708 6,537 3,686 3,080 586 51,459 
			   
			  8 October 2007  
			 North East 3,167 1,305 1,275 811 429 191 120 22 7,320 
			 North West 5,326 3,660 3,837 2,660 1,725 1,031 788 104 19,131 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,607 3,659 3,417 2,276 1,321 563 328 48 17,219 
			 East Midlands 3,971 2,185 1,832 1,093 551 333 280 60 10,305 
			 West Midlands 5,739 3,706 2,566 1,513 1,081 510 413 87 15,615 
			 East of England 8,123 5,326 5,996 3,858 2,421 1,416 1,161 193 28,494 
			 London 1,264 4,132 8,846 8,808 7,763 5,707 7,209 3,993 47,722 
			 South East 6,839 6,383 8,895 7,444 5,253 3,177 3,138 948 42,077 
			 South West 9,415 8,728 10,145 8,848 6,538 3,646 3,141 592 51,053 
			   
			  6 October 2008  
			 North East 3,225 1,384 1,322 832 477 215 141 22 7,618 
			 North West 5,767 3,968 4,121 2,900 1,852 1,059 804 106 20,577 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,877 3,978 3,643 2,360 1,353 582 337 44 18,174 
			 East Midlands 3,881 2,194 1,850 1,177 603 339 283 59 10,386 
			 West Midlands 5,771 3,885 2,667 1,636 1,134 522 401 79 16,095 
			 East of England 7,986 5,375 6,012 3,929 2,533 1,492 1,171 197 28,695 
			 London 1,325 4,189 8,837 8,860 7,835 5,666 7,209 3,928 47,849 
			 South East 8,749 6,399 8,996 7,540 5,387 3,253 3,255 979 44,558 
			 South West 9,321 8,790 10,204 8,915 6,643 3,779 3,175 605 51,432

Council Tax

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many chargeable dwellings in each council tax band there were in each region in each year from 1997 to 2008.

John Healey: Details of how many chargeable dwellings in each council tax band there were in each region in each year from 1997 to 2008 are shown in the following table. The data are a snapshot taken in the autumn of each year and are as reported to Communities and Local Government by all billing authorities in England on their annual council tax base (CTB) returns.
	Numbers of chargeable dwellings in each council tax band for England, but only at an all England total level, are published by the Department in statistical releases, most recently on 26 November 2008, and in the annual publication 'Local Government Financial Statistics'.
	
		
			   Band A  Band B  Band C  Band D  Band E  Band F  Band G  Band H  Total 
			  3 Nov  1997  
			 North East 643,320 150,105 148,150 70,694 34,751 15,904 9,074 978 1,072,976 
			 Northwest 1,250,413 531,964 489,673 265,402 149,441 74,112 51,491 5,033 2,817,529 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 957,203 398,112 331,569 167,896 104,013 50,245 30,161 2,480 2,041,679 
			 East Midlands 661,857 382,774 303,997 166,851 93,681 44,902 27,420 2,396 1,683,878 
			 West Midlands 693,484 533,196 407,559 221,355 135,103 72,913 44,452 4,314 2,112,376 
			 East of England 308,973 468,062 587,394 375,910 223,799 119,720 82,455 9,434 2,175,747 
			 London 99,663 396,249 794,043 755,314 454,595 220,519 180,911 46,860 2,948,154 
			 South East 268,492 527,829 839,359 644,487 431,715 256,957 207,112 27,155 3,203,106 
			 South West 346,213 507,392 478,489 319,604 209,978 106,429 63,987 5,865 2,037,957 
			   
			  3 Nov  1998  
			 North East 642,130 150,072 149,472 72,289 35,566 16,167 9,247 1,019 1,075,962 
			 North West 1,251,929 534,893 492,203 268,428 152,468 75,294 52,015 5,076 2,832,306 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 955,819 400,337 333,824 170,687 106,085 51,338 30,604 2,518 2,051,212 
			 East Midlands 664,304 385,230 306,290 170,094 96,196 46,134 27,853 2,439 1,698,540 
			 West Midlands 695,245 535,583 409,645 223,866 137,510 74,336 45,335 4,370 2,125,890 
			 East of England 311,895 470,380 591,095 380,063 227,426 122,088 83,855 9,578 2,196,380 
			 London 99,898 399,541 797,675 759,098 456,573 222,216 182,861 47,565 2,965,427 
			 South East 271,015 531,573 843,715 649,088 436,184 260,392 210,047 27,551 3,229,565 
			 Southwest 349,852 510,573 481,321 323,165 214,203 108,376 64,728 5,935 2,058,153 
			   
			  3 Nov  1999  
			 North East 639,023 150,718 150,904 74,063 36,637 16,508 9,411 1,027 1,078,291 
			 North West 1,252,849 538,633 495,747 272,237 155,700 76,755 52,726 5,158 2,849,805 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 954,716 402,689 336,028 173,869 108,770 52,562 31,122 2,573 2,062,329 
			 East Midlands 666,867 387,752 308,713 173,482 99,188 47,623 28,449 2,458 1,714,532 
			 West Midlands 694,748 538,693 412,393 226,690 140,267 76,058 46,235 4,451 2,139,535 
			 East of England 314,029 472,670 594,105 383,948 230,976 124,608 85,503 9,791 2,215,630 
			 London 99,822 403,437 800,302 763,560 458,530 224,683 184,624 48,467 2,983,425 
			 South East 273,059 534,023 847,352 653,850 440,279 264,115 212,813 27,950 3,253,441 
			 South West 352,418 512,905 484,904 327,053 217,863 110,300 65,677 6,020 2,077,140 
			   
			  1 Nov  2000  
			 North East 642,988 152,230 152,632 76,352 37,765 16,833 9,639 1,031 1,089,470 
			 North West 1,267,869 543,069 499,671 276,183 159,247 78,605 53,863 5,270 2,883,777 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 959,073 405,337 339,040 177,965 111,960 54,200 31,944 2,675 2,082,194 
			 East Midlands 672,131 391,759 310,703 177,005 102,310 49,246 29,244 2,490 1,734,888 
			 West Midlands 698,557 541,822 415,384 229,974 143,387 77,892 47,470 4,603 2,159,089 
			 East of England 318,408 476,872 598,660 389,136 234,349 127,024 86,991 10,046 2,241,486 
			 London 102,759 406,922 804,719 768,933 462,610 228,074 187,070 49,702 3,010,789 
			 South East 277,204 537,514 852,739 659,164 444,525 267,773 216,085 28,449 3,283,453 
			 South West 356,792 516,509 488,900 330,922 222,221 112,315 66,834 6,105 2,100,598 
			  1 Nov  2001  
			 North East 640,555 152,622 154,073 78,328 39,079 17,151 9,967 1,050 1,092,825 
			 North West 1,262,039 545,560 502,403 279,428 162,976 80,228 54,717 5,315 2,892,666 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 957,100 407,530 341,342 182,037 115,299 55,683 32,820 2,726 2,094,537 
			 East Midlands 676,053 394,126 313,497 180,544 105,607 50,780 30,041 2,538 1,753,186 
			 West Midlands 697,713 543,614 417,443 232,745 145,975 79,451 48,439 4,711 2,170,091 
			 East of England 320,443 479,398 601,712 392,594 237,562 129,072 88,384 10,213 2,259,378 
			 London 102,493 408,413 807,709 773,498 466,479 230,640 189,012 50,421 3,028,665 
			 South East 278,908 539,435 856,349 663,625 448,620 270,574 218,552 28,775 3,304,838 
			 South West 359,736 519,985 492,367 334,555 225,712 114,104 67,700 6,170 2,120,329 
			   
			  1 Nov  2002  
			 North East London 638,449 153,658 155,272 80,258 40,271 17,617 10,254 1,070 1,096,849 
			 North West 1,260,057 548,719 505,452 283,133 166,609 81,646 55,735 5,462 2,906,813 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 956,417 409,505 343,719 185,535 118,565 57,150 33,525 2,792 2,107,208 
			 East Midlands 676,573 396,177 316,302 183,716 108,707 52,392 30,840 2,578 1,767,285 
			 West Midlands 697,269 546,602 420,415 236,018 149,042 81,319 49,450 4,740 2,184,855 
			 East of England 321,675 481,420 604,936 396,891 240,864 131,599 89,740 10,406 2,277,531 
			 London 101,830 410,338 812,695 778,663 469,813 233,049 190,424 51,035 3,047,847 
			 South East 279,835 542,597 861,170 668,722 452,888 273,676 220,894 29,208 3,328,990 
			 South West 361,351 522,925 495,692 338,112 228,809 115,987 68,520 6,254 2,137,650 
			   
			  3 Nov  2003  
			 North East 638,476 154,253 156,193 81,769 41,264 18,078 10,489 1,067 1,101,589 
			 North West 1,260,433 552,435 508,912 287,413 169,563 82,908 56,703 5,542 2,923,909 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 956,015 411,557 345,459 189,173 121,171 58,038 33,983 2,823 2,118,219 
			 East Midlands 679,912 397,581 318,872 187,210 111,098 53,657 31,314 2,623 1,782,267 
			 West Midlands 698,976 548,618 422,615 239,396 151,545 82,619 50,287 4,790 2,198,846 
			 East of England 322,972 483,885 607,580 401,016 244,093 133,231 90,951 10,505 2,294,233 
			 London 102,278 412,658 817,281 783,347 472,513 235,496 191,969 51,641 3,067,183 
			 South East 281,481 545,939 865,094 673,561 455,931 276,122 222,397 29,590 3,350,115 
			 South West 364,349 525,884 498,945 341,817 230,885 117,532 68,878 6,280 2,154,570 
			   
			  1 Nov  2004  
			 North East 636,777 155,272 157,213 83,398 42,297 18,457 10,677 1,087 1,105,178 
			 North West 1,257,266 556,992 512,713 291,900 172,407 83,966 57,361 5,639 2,938,244 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 956,778 414,827 348,671 193,265 123,109 58,977 34,476 2,820 2,132,923 
			 East Midlands 682,896 400,625 322,179 190,847 113,177 54,841 31,762 2,668 1,798,995 
			 West Midlands 698,950 551,918 425,498 242,350 153,602 83,651 51,035 4,807 2,211,811 
			 East of England 324,269 486,517 611,663 405,720 247,419 134,906 91,716 10,613 2,312,823 
			 London 101,358 413,781 822,322 787,709 475,586 236,983 192,703 52,062 3,082,504 
			 South East 281,744 549,690 870,304 679,986 459,170 278,502 224,026 29,923 3,373,345 
			 South West 366,459 529,753 503,191 345,433 233,257 118,978 69,336 6,359 2,172,766 
			   
			  10 Oct 2005  
			 North East 634,129 156,349 158,402 84,778 43,215 18,800 10,886 1,109 1,107,668 
			 North West 1,254,347 561,954 515,601 295,454 173,968 84,877 57,864 5,705 2,949,770 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 958,244 417,874 351,499 196,221 124,541 59,610 34,783 2,844 2,145,616 
			 East Midlands 685,552 402,936 325,204 193,365 114,872 55,789 32,158 2,671 1,812,547 
			 West Midlands 700,260 555,330 428,103 245,147 154,999 84,364 51,533 4,864 2,224,600 
			 East of England 327,129 489,843 616,137 409,404 249,765 136,238 92,445 10,783 2,331,744 
			 London 102,532 416,823 830,604 793,973 478,914 238,947 193,653 52,598 3,108,044 
			 South East 285,267 553,001 876,949 685,906 462,406 280,440 225,149 30,163 3,399,281 
			 South West 368,870 532,582 506,523 348,088 235,104 119,964 69,752 6,403 2,187,286 
			   
			  9 Oct 2006  
			 North East 632,961 158,976 160,182 85,965 44,064 19,159 11,081 1,131 1,113,519 
			 North West 1,255,835 569,290 520,222 299,247 175,927 85,819 58,287 5,792 2,970,419 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 958,349 421,400 355,550 199,251 126,030 60,450 35,178 2,870 2,159,078 
			 East Midlands 688,108 406,786 328,616 196,019 116,395 56,686 32,510 2,678 1,827,798 
			 West Midlands 701,781 560,082 431,911 248,081 156,546 85,128 52,063 4,920 2,240,512 
			 East of England 329,921 494,319 620,889 413,944 252,314 137,569 93,475 10,952 2,353,383 
			 London 103,689 420,576 838,414 801,104 481,844 240,976 194,630 53,218 3,134,451 
			 South East 287,938 559,505 885,158 692,453 466,099 282,466 226,670 30,516 3,430,805 
			 South West 373,075 537,894 511,618 351,508 237,375 120,974 70,091 6,503 2,209,038 
			   
			  8 Oct 2007  
			 North East 632,818 161,789 161,857 87,415 44,627 19,460 11,237 1,153 1,120,356 
			 North West 1,256,151 577,480 525,575 303,378 177,357 86,606 58,421 5,879 2,990,847 
			 Yorkshire and the Number 957,629 426,086 359,033 201,990 127,215 61,133 35,360 2,897 2,171,343 
			 East Midlands 692,315 411,573 333,043 198,676 117,779 57,274 32,815 2,696 1,846,171 
			 Wes! Midlands 703,364 564,508 435,558 250,299 157,990 85,546 52,409 4,941 2,254,615 
			 East of England 333,156 501,053 627,039 418,635 255,285 138,999 94,351 11,145 2,379,663 
			 London 105,114 424,253 848,734 807,723 484,579 242,674 194,779 53,655 3,161,511 
			 South East 292,255 567,195 894,039 699,785 468,902 284,584 227,535 30,920 3,465,215 
			 South West 378,907 544,380 516,405 355,170 239,242 121,845 70,374 6,565 2,232,888 
			   
			  6 Oct 2008  
			 North East 631,311 164,191 163,628 88,801 45,203 19,681 11,355 1,179 1,125,349 
			 North West 1,257,746 586,683 529,579 306,230 178,223 87,091 58,548 5,987 3,010,087 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 962,094 432,791 363,736 204,986 128,453 61,829 35,596 2,962 2,192,447 
			 East Midlands 697,725 417,325 336,626 201,260 118,935 57,880 33,052 2,713 1,865,516 
			 West Midlands 703,807 569,909 439,121 252,297 159,351 86,235 52,697 4,981 2,268,398 
			 East of England 336,033 508,049 632,710 422,724 257,393 140,006 94,841 11,393 2,403,149 
			 London 105,677 428,235 860,363 816,303 487,682 243,822 195,240 54,142 3,191,464 
			 South East 297,754 575,802 903,921 706,279 471,469 285,858 228,545 31,327 3,500,955 
			 South West 385,144 551,064 521,628 359,108 241,176 122,673 70,793 6,671 2,258,257

Councillors

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1072-3W, on councillors: Arun, whether the Audit Commission plans to obtain bank account information from councillors in other local authorities during its next National Fraud Initiative national data matching exercise.

John Healey: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred, dated 20 April 2009:
	Your Parliamentary question on whether the Audit Commission plans to obtain bank account information from councillors in other local authorities during its next National Fraud Initiative national data matching exercise has been passed to me to reply.
	All local authorities will be required to provide payroll data relating to a salary, members' allowance or other remuneration for the next scheduled exercise, NFI 2010/11. The fields required for data matching are set out in a 'data specification'. The bank account and sort code are included on the payroll data specification. This information is required under powers in Part 2A of the Audit Commission Act 1998.
	A copy of this letter will be placed in Hansard.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for how long her Department has followed the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management programme.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government signed up to the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme in April 2006. Since then, the Department has continued to work with the Carbon Trust to identify opportunities to reduce further carbon emissions.
	In 2007-o8, the Department reduced its electricity and gas consumption in its main headquarter building by 22 per cent. and 37 per cent., respectively, compared to 2006-07.

Departmental Manpower

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of her Department's staff were employed to work on housing-related matters in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: The following table shows the numbers of staff employed in Housing Directorates in each of the last five years. There may be other staff engaged in housing related matters, though it is not possible to ascertain this without incurring disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Number 
			  Current Directorate Title  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Housing Delivery and Homelessness 102.54 108.49 114.01 110.62 138.12 
			 Housing Management and Support 57.18 61.49 64.66 50.76 73.85 
			 Housing Markets 38.77 40.61 43.39 49.63 66.55 
			 Grand Total 198.49 210.59 222.06 211.01 278.52

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been spent on  (a) the purchase of and  (b) bills for (i) BlackBerrys and (ii) other mobile telephones for (A) Ministers, (B) special advisers and (C) civil servants in her Department in each year since 2005.

Sadiq Khan: This information is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. However details of our total spend on mobile devices (hardware and running costs) for the last five years are in the following table:
	
		
			   Total  () 
			 2004-05 94,487 
			 2005-06 94,904 
			 2006-08 112,650 
			 2008-09 166,985

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) BlackBerrys and  (b) other mobile telephones have been provided to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants in her Department in each year since 2005.

Sadiq Khan: This information is not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	However the Department currently has 684 mobile devices on contract from our supplier; 284 of these devices are BlackBerrys.

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 483W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, for what reasons the British Humanist Association was funded from the Fund.

Sadiq Khan: The British Humanist Association received 25,000 in order to establish and support a network of grassroots humanists to work and build relationships with statutory bodies and participate in groups that advise local authorities on matters of religion or belief, or encourage dialogue between people with different beliefs. The project aimed to enable local humanists to network with faith and 'interfaith' groups and participate in groups convened by local authorities, and thus contribute towards good relations and community cohesion.
	The Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund was designed to increase the capacity of all religion and belief communities to engage with each other and with wider society. The guidance notes for the Fund included the following definition:
	For the purpose of this fund, a faith organisation is defined as one where the majority of its members adhere to the same faith. They share a world view or 'life stance' that involves a set of moral and spiritual values and beliefs about the nature of life and the world. They will usually, but not always, believe in a god or gods.
	The application was made under the relationships with local, regional or national Government categoryone of the capacity building categories of the fund. In its application, the BHA described their faith tradition as: Humanist (though we do not think of ourselves as a 'faith', we meet the definition of 'faith' given in the guidance).

Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 483W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, what funding her Department and its agencies have allocated to the British Humanist Association other than through the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund; and for what purposes.

Sadiq Khan: None.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her estimate is of the number of fires prevented in each  (a) region and  (b) fire authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Sadiq Khan: There is no mechanism that allows Communities and Local Government to access how many fires have been prevented. However the latest provisional figures show that in 2007-08, Fire and Rescue Services in England attended a total of 293,900 fires, a 32 per cent. reduction on the 2001-02 figure of 431,800.

Housing: Construction

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the social effect on communities of the Government's target of building three million new homes by 2020 not being met.

Iain Wright: The Housing Green Paper Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable published in July 2007 set out the Government's ambition to increase housing supply. This step-change in housing delivery is necessary to ensure adequate housing supply that is crucial in order to improve housing affordability, ease the pressure on social housing waiting lists and improve economic productivity.

Housing: Construction

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new units of social housing have been built in  (a) Stafford constituency,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) England in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: Information on new build social housing by constituency is not available. The following table shows the number of new build for social rent in Stafford local authority, the West Midlands region, and England in 2007-08.
	
		
			  Area  2007-08 
			 Stafford local authority 60 
			 West Midlands region 2,060 
			 England 25,390 
		
	
	The social rent new build figures are from the Homes and Communities Agency Investment Management System (IMS), and Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) returns and P2 house building returns submitted to CLG by local authorities and the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
	Not all social rented housing is provided by new build completions, as some supply can come from acquisitions. An additional 3,980 social rented homes were acquired in England in 2007-08; these are not included in the table. The social rent figures differ from the number of affordable homes provided, because the affordable housing figures also include intermediate rent and low cost home ownership, as well as social rent.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the difference was between  (a) the actual rate of (i) inflation, (ii) wage inflation, (iii) discount rate for scheme liabilities and (iv) increase for pensions and  (b) the assumptions of each made by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessors in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what assumptions about  (a) inflation,  (b) wage inflation,  (c) discount rate for scheme liabilities and  (d) rate of increase for pensions were made by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessors in each of the last three years.

Margaret Beckett: Homes and Communities Agency employees are covered by three pension schemes. The English Partnerships Pension scheme was renamed the Homes and Communities Agency Pension scheme with effect from 1 December 2008, when the Homes and Communities Agency replaced English Partnerships as the Principal Employer. It was adopted as the scheme of choice for the Homes and Communities Agency and is used to provide benefits for new employees of the Agency. Due to legacy arrangements on the formation of the Agency, some employees are covered by the Westminster Pension Fund or the West Sussex Pension Fund, both Local Government Pension schemes.
	An actuarial valuation of each of the schemes is carried out every three years to assess the value of liabilities and future funding requirements. The assumptions used for the valuation are set by the Trustees or Administering Authority after taking actuarial advice. As part of the valuation, an analysis of the experience over the previous three years is carried out. The assumptions used to value each Scheme's liabilities are long term assumptions and are intended to reflect experience over the lifetime of the scheme. Details of the most recent available actuarial valuation for each of the schemes are as follows:
	The experience for the three years following the valuation of the Homes and Communities Agency Pension scheme as at 31 March 2005 was as follows (the Trustees' long-term assumptions at 31 March 2005 are shown in brackets):
	
		
			   Percentage  p.a 
			 (a) average inflation 3.4 (2.8) 
			 (b) average wage inflation 4.5 (4.8) 
			 (c) average investment return/discount rate 6.2 (6.2)(1) 
			 (d) average rate of pension increase 3.4 (2.8) 
			 (1) This figure is a weighted average, assuming a return of 6.7 per cent, on assets backing pre-retirement liabilities and 5.2 per cent. on assets backing post-retirement liabilities. 
		
	
	The approximate impact on the Scheme's ongoing liabilities due to actual experience differing from the assumptions over the three years to 31 March 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			   Increase/decrease 
			 (a) average inflation higher than assumed (includes impact on pension increases) increase by 1.1 million 
			 (b) average wage inflation lower than assumed decrease by 0.7 million 
			 (d) rate of pension increase higher than assumed increase by 0.8 million 
		
	
	The next actuarial valuation has an effective date of 31 March 2008 and is currently being finalised.
	he experience for the three years following the valuation of the Westminster Pension Fund as at 31 March 2004 was as follows (the long-term assumptions at 31 March 2004 are shown in brackets):
	
		
			   Percentage  p.a 
			 (a) inflation 3.1 (2.9) 
			 (b) wage inflation (estimate) 5.4 (4.4) 
			 (c) investment return/average discount rate 13.0 (5.7) 
			 (d) rate of pension increase 3.1 (2.9) 
		
	
	The financial impact for the (then) Housing Corporation over the three years to 31 March 2007 is as follows:
	(a) change in financial assumptions: reduced funding position by approximately 2.5 million.
	(b) investment returns greater than expected: improved funding position by approximately 16.9 million.
	The assumptions used to determine the value of the ongoing liabilities of the Westminster Pension Fund for the triennial actuarial valuation of the Fund as at 31 March 2007 were as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage  p.a 
			 (a) inflation 3.2 
			 (b) wage inflation 4.7 
			 (c) (i) discount rate for members whilst in service 6.2 
			 (ii) discount rate for members other than whilst in service 5.2 
			 (d) rate of pension increase 3.2 
		
	
	An analysis of the experience over the three years following the valuation is not yet available. The next actuarial valuation will have an effective date of 31 March 2010.
	The experience for the three years following the valuation of the West Sussex County Council Pension Fund as at 31 March 2004 was as follows (the long-term assumptions at 31 March 2004 are shown in brackets):
	
		
			   Percentage  p.a 
			 (a) average inflation 2.9 (2.9) 
			 (b) average wage inflation (1)3.5 (4.4) 
			 (c) average investment return/discount rate 14.1 (6.3) 
			 (d) average rate of pension increase 2.9 (2.9) 
			 (1) This is an average figure for the Fund as a whole, based on average pensionable salaries at 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2007. 
		
	
	A breakdown of the impact on the Fund's ongoing liabilities due to actual experience differing from the assumptions is not disclosed in the actuarial valuation report. However at a high level the financial impact for the whole fund over the three years to 31 March 2007 is as follows:
	 (a) change in financial assumptions: reduced funding position by 156 million.
	 (b) investment returns greater than expected: improved funding position by 278 million.
	The assumptions used to determine the value of the ongoing liabilities of the West Sussex county council pension fund for the triennial actuarial valuation of the fund as at 31 March 2007 were as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage  p.a 
			 (a) inflation 3.2 
			 (b) wage inflation (1)4.7 
			 (c) discount used to value liabilities 6.1 
			 (d) rate of pension increase 3.2 
			 (1 )Plus allowances for promotional increases 
		
	
	An analysis of the experience over the three years following the valuation is not yet available. The next actuarial valuation will have an effective date of 31 March 2010.

Housing: Sales

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of first-time home buyers there were in each year between 1987 and 1996.

Iain Wright: The numbers of first time buyers purchasing a home with a mortgage in the UK in each year between 1987 and 1996 are presented as follows. This shows between 1987 and 1996 there were 4,689,400 first-time buyers. There were 5,272,500 between 1997 and 2008.
	
		
			   Number of first time buyers purchasing with a mortgage, UK 
			 1987 523,700 
			 1988 580,300 
			 1989 455,200 
			 1990 409,200 
			 1991 336,200 
			 1992 447,600 
			 1993 519,500 
			 1994 532,100 
			 1995 420,300 
			 1996 465,300 
			  Source: Council of Mortgage Lenders

Infrastructure Planning Commission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of the number of applications for judicial review of discussions taken by the Infrastructure Planning Commission which will be made in the first three years of its operation.

Iain Wright: The number of Judicial Reviews the Infrastructure Planning Commission is likely to face in the first three years of its operation depends on a number of unknown variables. As such it is not possible to make a meaningful estimate of their number. However, I am confident that the Commission will ensure its decisions are robust and would be able to defended legal challenges vigorously.

Local Government: Bank Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1695-6W, on local government finance, if she will seek to obtain information on the levels of exposure of local authorities to the Madoff hedge fund.

John Healey: I have no plans to seek further information on levels of exposure on local government finance due to investment in the Madoff Hedge Fund.

Local Government: Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what guidance has been provided to local authorities on  (a) the setting of investment strategies in respect of the Local Government Pension Scheme and  (b) appropriate levels of exposure to equities;
	(2)  what requirements there are on trustees of local government pension schemes in relation to maximising returns on their investments.

John Healey: Investment decisions in the local government pension scheme in England and Wales are the responsibility of designated administering authorities whose decisions are subject to the provisions governing the management and investment of funds. Authorities are required to publish a Statement of Investment Principles, including their policy on the expected rate of return on investments, the types of investments to be held and the way in which risks are measured and managed. Decisions must be taken on the basis of expert advice, comply with the regulations and with each authority's published Statement of Investment Principles and Funding Strategy Statement. Authorities must have regard also to guidance issued by CIPFA on the preparation of these statements and on funding and investment issues.
	Those responsible for investment decisions in the scheme are also required to act within general legal principles relating to their fiduciary duty and the investment of monies held in trust.

Mobile Homes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 550W, on mobile homes, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's ad hoc survey on local authorities in England.

Iain Wright: The 2006 ad hoc survey of park home sites in England has now been placed in the Library. The data were provided by local authorities and my Department is not responsible for its accuracy.

Mortgages

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information her Department and its agencies hold on the amount of mortgage lending which has funded mortgages  (a) for new build,  (b) for first-time buyers and  (c) with high loan to property value ratios in the last (i) six and (ii) 12 months.

Iain Wright: The Department holds data on completed mortgages used for house purchase via the Regulated Mortgage Survey (RMS) which is supplied by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The RMS covers about 60 per cent. of the UK mortgage market and includes details on whether the mortgage was used to purchase a new build property, whether the buyer was a first time buyer and the loan amount and the purchase price of the property.
	From this survey we have the following information on the amount of mortgage lending which has funded mortgages for house purchase  (a) for new build,  (b) for first time buyers and  (c) with high loan to value ratios in the (i) six months to February 2009 and (ii) the 12 months to February 2009:
	
		
			  Mortgage lending for house purchase (based on amount loaned) as a percentage of all mortgage lending for house purchase 
			   Six months to February 2009 (Percentage)  12 months to February 2009 (Percentage) 
			 New build 6.8 7.3 
			 First time buyers 30.0 30.0 
			 High loan to value ratios (90 per cent. or over) 17.1 24.0 
			
			 Total gross mortgage lending for house purchase ( million) 25,624 67,841 
			  Notes:  1. These data are not necessarily representative of all mortgage lending as it is based on the Regulated Mortgage Survey data that Communities and Local Government hold which includes only mortgages for house purchase and covers only about 60 per cent. of the market. 2. The total gross mortgage lending for house purchase is published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's announcement of 31 March 2009 on business rates, what the estimated cost to the Exchequer will be of the proposed changes.

John Healey: The impact assessment, which will be prepared alongside the necessary secondary legislation, will set out details of the cost to the Exchequer and include costs to local government which are being considered as part of the Government's new burdens rules.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's announcement of 31 March 2009 on business rates, 
	(1)  whether an impact assessment of the proposals has been prepared;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the likely take-up rate of the deferred business rate scheme.

John Healey: There are approximately 1.7 million hereditaments in England that could potentially be eligible for deferring the increase in their business rate bills. An impact assessment will be undertaken as part of the process of making the necessary secondary legislation.

Non-Domestic Rates: Small Businesses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to her Department's announcement of 31 March 2009 on business rates, what funding will be provided to local authorities to cover the costs of rebilling.

John Healey: Any policy which increases the cost of providing local authority services is subject to the new burdens principle. The Government are committed to ensuring that all net new burdens falling on local authorities are fully and properly funded. The business rates announcement is covered by the new burdens principle, and the potential net impacts on local authorities will be fully funded.

Planning: Gardens

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers local authorities have to exclude gardens from brownfield designation within their local development framework.

Iain Wright: Residential gardens are contained within the definition of previously-developed land in Annex B of Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3). However, paragraph 43 of PPS 3 says that local authorities can, when deciding the priority for the location of new housing, set out in their Local Development Framework the contributions expected from different categories of previously-developed land. This could include residential gardens. If garden development is a particular issue for an authority, then they could also introduce a plan policy on development in gardens which, for example, could set out the circumstances and type of development that would or would not be acceptable.
	On the 2 April the Government announced, via a response to a parliamentary question from the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam, a review into the evidence on the extent and impact of housing development on garden land in order to establish whether there was a genuine problem. Further details can be found at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090402/text/90402w0048.htm#0904032000060

Regional Government: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1885-86W, on joint economic commission, what funding has been given to each regional economic commission; what the remit of each is; who the members of each are; and how each was appointed.

Sadiq Khan: As part of the Government's response to the economic downturn, the Ministers for each English region have established regional economic fora, which they co-chair with the chair of the regional development agenda. These short-term, ad hoc advisory groups, whose members are unpaid, have no dedicated budgets and are supported by secretariats provided by their Government offices. The members come from a variety of bodies with an interest in the regional economy, including public sector bodies, local authorities, business organisations, unions and the third sector and were invited to take part in the meetings by the co-chairs of the fora.
	Details of the remits and members of each forum have been placed in the Library.

Sheltered Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the employment of wardens and care workers in sheltered accommodation schemes.

Iain Wright: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not issue any guidance on the employment of wardens and care workers in sheltered accommodation.
	However Communities and Local Government has recently refreshed the Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) which is a voluntary scheme that sets out the standards expected in the delivery of housing related support services, including staff quality and competencealthough not mandatory, the majority of administering authorities continue to use the QAF to continue to drive up the quality standards of service providers and to ensure that services adapt to meet the changing needs of clients.

Social Rented Housing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many social homes there are expected to be in  (a) London,  (b) Birmingham,  (c) Liverpool,  (d) Leeds,  (e) Sheffield,  (f) Bristol,  (g) Manchester,  (h) Leicester,  (i) Coventry,  (j) Kingston upon Hull,  (k) Bradford,  (l ) Stoke-on-Trent,  (m) Wolverhampton,  (n) Nottingham,  (o) Plymouth,  (p) Southampton,  (q) Reading,  (r) Derby,  (s) Dudley and  (t) Newcastle upon Tyne in 2010;
	(2)  how many social homes there were in  (a) London,  (b) Birmingham,  (c) Liverpool,  (d) Leeds,  (e) Sheffield,  (f) Bristol,  (g) Manchester,  (h) Leicester,  (i) Coventry,  (j) Kingston upon Hull,  (k) Bradford,  (l ) Stoke-on-Trent,  (m) Wolverhampton,  (n) Nottingham,  (o) Plymouth,  (p) Southampton,  (q) Reading,  (r) Derby,  (s) Dudley and  (t) Newcastle upon Tyne in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008; and how many there were on 1 March 2009.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1510W. A table has already been placed in the Library to provide the number of social homes owned by local authorities and registered social landlords in 2008, for every local authority area.
	A new table showing the number of social homes owned by local authority and registered social landlords in 2007, for every local authority area has been deposited in the Library.
	Information on local authority (LA) owned housing stock is collected from local authorities on the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) return. This information is recorded as at 1 April and is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 116 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140882.xls
	Information on Registered Social Landlord's (RSL) stock is collected through the Tenant Services Authority's Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) and is recorded as at 31 March.
	Figures for RSLs are for social housing stock owned in England only and include general needs, supported housing and housing for older people accommodation. Both self-contained units and bed spaces are included because a split for local authority areas is not available.
	Information is not available for the expected number of social homes in 2010 or for the number of social homes on 1 March 2009.

Social Rented Housing

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance the Tenant Services Authority gives to housing associations in respect of the affordability to tenants of rent increases.

Iain Wright: On 29 January 2009, the Tenant Services Authority issued a guidance note to housing associations entitled 'guideline limit for rent increases'it can be found on their website at:
	http://www.tenantservicesauthority.org/server/show/ConWebDoc.16647
	The guidance note refers to a circular (04/08) from the former Housing Corporation entitled Rent, Rent Differentials and Service Charges. This is available to download at:
	http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.156337PHPSESSID8beeecea4f3ff072063dbe6c96d431a4

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many responses to its consultation on Traveller sites the South East England Regional Assembly has rejected because the views in the response are considered by the Assembly to be discriminatory.

Iain Wright: The Regional Assembly held this consultation and took decisions on how to treat responses. They have not yet submitted the outcome to the Secretary of State.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking on the provision of sites for Travellers in those districts adjoining Sevenoaks District Council.

Sadiq Khan: The provision of pitches for the Gypsy and Traveller community throughout the south east of England is currently being reviewed as part of the region's spatial strategy. The review is being undertaken by the South East England regional assembly, as the regional planning body. The next stage in the Gypsy and Travellers regional spatial strategy review will be a public consultation, followed some months later by an examination in public.

CJD: Screening

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 756-7W, on CJD: screening, what the criteria are for validation of a test for variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Dawn Primarolo: Any item of equipment for a variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease test kit must meet the essential safety requirements specified in the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Directive.
	The device must perform as intended by the manufacturer and meet criteria relating to sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility.

CJD: Screening

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2009,  Official Report, column 757W, on blood donation screening, if he will make an assessment of the merits of giving access to blood samples of those who have died of variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) to companies which have developed a blood screening test for vCJD.

Dawn Primarolo: A process, overseen by the independent OD Resource Centre Oversight Committee, is already in place to enable appropriate access to the small number of blood samples from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vGD) disease patients. Companies developing vCJD screening tests are already participating in this process.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times  (a) he and  (b) each other Minister in his Department has visited his Department's offices at Quarry House, Leeds since June 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministers of this Department have had a number of meetings with Leeds departmental staff in Leeds and by videoconference. The Department makes as much use as possible of technology in holding meetings between Ministers and staff based in Leeds to help reduce both travel costs and carbon emissions. In 2007, the Secretary of State for Health (Alan Johnson), the Minister of State (Ben Bradshaw), the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Ivan Lewis) and the Minister of State (Dawn Primarolo) met staff at an all-staff event at a conference venue in Leeds. In 2008, the Secretary of State (Alan Johnson), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Ann Keen), the Minister of State (Dawn Primarolo) and the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Ivan Lewis) met staff at the next all-staff event in Leeds, which was also based at a conference venue. In 2009, Ministers attended the Leeds all-staff event by videoconference. The dates on which Ministers have had meetings within Quarry House itself are in the following table.
	
		
			  Date of visit  Minister 
			 15 August 2007 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health services (Ann Keen) 
			 20 September 2007 Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) 
			 6 March 2008 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Ara Darzi) 
			 28 August 2008 Secretary of State (Alan Johnson)

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to address the effect on levels of carbon dioxide emissions from his Department of its ICT purchases since the publication of the Greening Government ICT Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Since the publication of the Greening Government ICT Strategy, the Department has only purchased personal computers, laptops and monitors that meet ENERGY STAR performance criteria and EPEAT environmental criteria. The policy for procurement of these items includes specification of low energy processors and high efficiency power conversion units.
	A managed print service has been put in place to reduce the number of printers on the estate and to increase the efficiency of the printing service. This will reduce if not remove the need for new printers over the next two to three years.
	A policy is in place to redeploy existing suitable devices before procurement is approved and to extend the life of assets while they continue to meet minimum performance criteria.
	A green governance process is being established to ensure that any other new information and communications technology purchase is specified within a framework that ensures the performance of the device or service is optimised to reduce carbon emissions, that existing suitable equipment is redeployed before a new purchase is approved, and that virtualisation technology is used where possible in the solution definition.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of IT products in each category procured for each division of his Department were compliant with the Government's Buy Sustainable-Quick Win standard in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: In the 2008-09 financial year, the Department procured:
	60 personal computers, 100 per cent. meeting EPEAT gold and Energy Star criteria;
	119 laptops, 100 per cent. meeting EPEAT silver and Energy Star criteria; and
	175 flat screen monitors, 100 per cent. meeting EPEAT silver and Energy Star criteria.
	All the products above listed as meeting Energy Star criteria are deemed to meet the Buy Sustainable-Quick Win standard. There is no breakdown by division available as devices are procured in bulk and allocated on individual need for the duration of the requirement. It would incur disproportionate cost to identify allocation of new equipment by division.
	There were no purchases of individual printers, scanners and inkjet printers in the year as the Department procured a contract for a managed print service, deployed in 2007-08. The service replaced 1,500 individual printers with multifunctional devices and achieved significant carbon and financial savings.

Departmental Research

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1360W, on departmental publications, how many articles appearing in healthcare publications and journals in the last two years have been funded in whole and in part by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies.

Ben Bradshaw: 21 advertorials (paid-for articles) in health care publications and journals have been funded in whole or in part by the Department's communications directorate in the last two years.
	To identify this information against a wider definition would incur a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Research

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1360W, on departmental publications, how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies spent on articles appearing in healthcare publications and journals in the last two years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's communications directorate has spent 59,000 excluding VAT on advertorials (paid-for articles) in health care publications and journals in the last two years.
	To identify this information against a wider definition would incur a disproportionate cost.

Health Services

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of  (a) (i) the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority, (ii) the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and (iii) North Staffordshire NHS Trust since 1 January 2003 and the Healthcare Commission since its inception.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to approach the organisations listed directly, as they may publish or be able to provide the information requested. There is no such national health service (NHS) organisation as North Staffordshire NHS Trust. However, there is the University Hospital of North Stafford NHS Trust or North Stafford NHS Primary Care Trust. The Healthcare Commission (HCC) ceased to exist on 31 March 2009 and was replaced by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which is the new health and adult social care regulator for England. CQC may be approached to provide historical HCC documents.
	As stated in the publication 'Governing the NHSa guide for Boards', which has been placed in the Library, there is an obligation on the boards of strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts to conduct themselves and their business in an open and transparent way that commands public confidence. As stated in 'The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance', published by  Monitor the independent regular of NHS foundation trusts (FT), an FT's board of directors should follow a policy of openness and transparency in its proceedings and decision making unless this conflicts with a need to protect the wider interests of the public or the NHS foundation trust.

Health Services: Greater London

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 898W, on health services: Greater London, what assessment he has made of the effects on the revenue of primary care trusts in  (a) Enfield and  (b) London in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 of changes to the formula used to determine revenue allocations to such trusts.

Ben Bradshaw: The 2009-10 and 2010-11 revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) were made on the basis of a new funding formula, recommended by the independent advisory committee on resource allocation.
	The funding formula determines PCT target allocations. Actual allocations to PCTs depend also on the pace of change policyhow additional funding is distributed to move PCTs towards their target allocations. It is therefore not possible to say what the allocations would have been in 2009-10 and 2010-11 if the previous funding formula had still applied.
	The Department is moving all PCTs towards their target allocations as quickly as possible, but this must be balanced with the need to ensure that all PCTs are appropriately supported with stable funding that both supports existing commitments and allows long-term planning, as well as recognising the unavoidable cost pressures that all PCTs face.
	Enfield PCT moved from being 0.1 per cent. above target under the previous funding formula at the close of 2008-09 to opening 2009-10 under the new formula at 2.3 per cent. above target. This means that under the 2009-10 and 2010-11 pace of change policy, Enfield PCT received a 10.6 per cent. average increase in funding over the two years, equivalent to a cumulative cash increase of 44.1 million. The average increase for London PCTs over the two years is 10.7 per cent.
	The 2009-10 and 2010-11 allocations made to the PCTs in the London strategic health authority and the difference between their actual and target allocations (the distance from target) are listed in the following table.
	
		
			   Distance from target percentage 
			  PCT name  2009-10 allocation 000  2010-11 allocation 000  Two year increase 000  Two year increase percentage  2008-09 closing  2009-10 opening  2010-11 closing 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 301,080 316,599 30,789 10.77 -3.5 0.7 1.3 
			 Barnet PCT 528,745 555,931 53,442 10.64 6.9 7.9 6.7 
			 Bexley Care Trust 321,350 337,896 32,552 10.66 0.3 1.5 1.4 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 501,538 527,325 50,692 10.64 4.8 8.3 7.7 
			 Bromley PCT 466,265 490,239 47,126 10.64 3.2 8.7 8.6 
			 Camden PCT 453,989 477,331 45,886 10.64 5.6 14.2 12.4 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 472,222 496,502 47,729 10.64 -3.5 6.6 6.6 
			 Croydon PCT 526,752 553,836 53,240 10.64 1.9 5.2 5.1 
			 Ealing PCT 545,775 573,837 55,163 10.64 6.7 8.2 8.0 
			 Enfield PCT 436,718 459,173 44,140 10.64 0.1 2.3 2.1 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 424,160 445,968 42,871 10.64 0.7 4.2 4.0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 326,448 343,232 32,995 10.64 6.0 16.4 16.2 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 424,321 446,139 42,887 10.64 0.5 2.3 2.1 
			 Harrow PCT 313,370 329,483 31,673 10.64 7.2 7.8 7.4 
			 Havering PCT 376,447 396,316 39,278 11.00 0.2 0.2 0.5 
			 Hillingdon PCT 379,496 399,009 38,357 10.64 3.4 6.6 6.4 
			 Hounslow PCT 362,964 381,627 36,686 10.64 4.7 5.2 5.1 
			 Islington PCT 412,126 433,316 41,655 10.64 8.4 12.3 11.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 337,424 354,773 34,104 10.64 4.9 22.1 20.4 
			 Kingston PCT 249,459 262,286 25,213 10.64 9.2 14.2 13.5 
			 Lambeth PCT 580,017 609,840 58,624 10.64 12.6 14.9 14.8 
			 Lewisham PCT 484,939 509,873 49,014 10.64 11.4 12.1 12.0 
			 Newham PCT 510,371 536,897 51,869 10.69 -3.2 2.9 0.9 
			 Redbridge PCT 365,515 385,618 39,159 11.30 0.6 -1.4 -1.1 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 267,442 281,193 27,031 10.64 13.0 23.8 23.4 
			 Southwark PCT 492,748 518,084 49,803 10.64 3.2 6.4 5.7 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 583,188 613,174 58,944 10.64 4.6 10.0 9.7 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 447,591 470,605 45,239 10.64 -3.5 5.3 3.4 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 395,510 415,846 39,977 10.64 0.8 1.9 2.2 
			 Wandsworth PCT 488,965 514,106 49,421 10.64 11.9 14.8 14.4 
			 Westminster PCT 447,789 470,813 45,259 10.64 11.6 22.7 20.8 
			 
			 London SHA 13,224,724 13,906,867 1,340,815 10.7
			 England 80,030,703 84,432,392 8,573,905 11.30

Medical Records: Databases

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 239W, on NHS: data protection, which companies have had access to NHS patient information in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department has published clear rules and standards of practice on the management of patient information. These apply both to staff who work within, and those who work under contract to, national health service bodies.

Mental Health Services

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 368-69W, on assertive outreach teams, what the reasons are for the reduction in the number of assertive outreach teams in  (a) England and  (b) the South West Strategic Health Authority area since January 2006;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on the provision of assertive outreach teams in  (a) England,  (b) the South West and  (c) Devon in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: The public service agreement target for assertive outreach teams was to have 220 teams by December 2003, and was met. The reduction in team numbers since 2006 has been minimal at both national and strategic health authority (SHA) level. Nationally, the number of teams was 252 in 2006 and 249 in 2008. The corresponding figures for South West SHA were 29 in 2006 and 28 in 2008. Primary care trusts are responsible for ensuring that the number of teams commissioned meets local need.
	The information on local services is not collected centrally in the format requested. However, the data in the following table shows the total investment for England and the South West region for assertive outreach teams from 2001-02 to 2007-08.
	
		
			  Assertive outreach teams, total cash investment from 2001-02 to 2007-08 
			   England ( million)  South West region () 
			 2001-02 48.4 5,397 
			 2002-03 62.2 5,782 
			 2003-04 78.2 7,442 
			 2004-05 95.2 8,499 
			 2005-06 101.4 8,759 
			 2006-07 108.5 10,448 
			 2007-08 124.9 10,440 
			  Source: Mental Health Strategies.

Mental Health Services: Nurses

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1762-4W, on mental health services: nurses, what the reason is for the reduction in the number of registered mental health nurses in the Devon Partnership NHS Trust since 30 September 2006.

Phil Hope: Work force planning is a matter for local determination as local work force planners are best placed to assess the health care needs of their local population. The Department continues to ensure the frameworks are in place to enable effective local work force planning.

Out of Area Treatment: Wales

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 901W, on out of area treatment: Wales, whether the protocol to have effect from April 2009 will be a renewal of the existing temporary protocol; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government and the Welsh Assembly Government have agreed a revised protocol for cross-border health services with effect from 1 April 200931 March 2011. This replaces the interim protocol on cross-border commissioning.

Quality Health Ltd.

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department paid to Quality Health Ltd. in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Quality Health Ltd have not received any direct payments from the Department since 1 April 2004 according to the Department of Health's own accounting system.

Social Services

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 251W, on social care: research, whether the research being undertaken by the Personal Social Services Research Unit to make projections of likely future demand for long-term care has been completed.

Phil Hope: The personal social services unit (PSSRU) is currently in the early stages of producing a report detailing the results around the projections of likely future demand for long-term care. We expect PSSRU to publish this report within the next few months.

Social Services: National Skills Academies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 20 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1236W, whether the Social Care Skills Academy is operational.

Phil Hope: The National Skills Academy for Social Care is currently involving a broad array of sector employers and people who use services to ensure its programmes and activities meet the needs and expectations of those who will benefit most from its creation. It has recently appointed a permanent director and is currently rolling out its first programmes. The Skills Academy is expected to be fully operational by autumn 2009.

St. Helena: Politics and Government

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 40WS, on St. Helena, when he expects the consultation on access arrangements for the island of St. Helena to conclude; if he will publish all submissions the consultation receives; and if he will make an oral statement to the House as soon as possible after conclusion of the consultation.

Michael Foster: The consultation starts in April. The deadline for responses is 31 July. In line with the Government's 'Code of Practice on Consultation', we plan to publish a report within three months of the close of the consultation. This will summarise the responses received and explain how the consultation will influence policy development. The Secretary of State for International Development will make his decision once he has considered the report.

Washington

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which airline was used by the hon. Member for Dewsbury for his visit to Washington from 25 to 26 October 2007, as listed in the Cabinet Office's list of overseas travel by Ministers undertaken between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008; what class his ticket was; how much the flight cost; what accommodation he used; how much it cost; who accompanied him; what official engagements he undertook on his visit; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Details of Ministers' travel are published annually in the Cabinet Office publication Overseas Travel by Ministers. The most recent version is available in the Library of the House and online at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/propriety_and_ethics/assets/travel_2007_2008.pdf

Balkans: Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what level of funding will be provided for conflict prevention work in the Balkans; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We plan to fund some 6.5 million of conflict prevention project work in the Western Balkans from the Wider Europe Conflict Prevention Fund in 2009-10. I have covered this further in my letter of 25 March 2009 to the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

Balkans: Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what a reduced level of commitment to EU and OSCE operations in the Balkans and the Caucasus will entail; how much funding is required for this reduced level of commitment; how much funding was originally planned under the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 25 March 2009,  Official Report, column 18WS.
	The UK will continue to support the work of EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe missions in the Balkans and south Caucasus. Details of the prioritisation of our commitments are set out in my letter to the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee of 25 March 2009, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

British Council: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 778W, on British Council: finance, how much expenditure  (a) in which countries and  (b) on what programmes he expects the British Council to incur under its Reconnect Programme in 2008-09.

Caroline Flint: The British Council's Reconnect programme for 2008-09 focussed on youth leadership programmes within countries in its priority regions of the middle east, near east and north Africa as well as parts of its central and south Asia and east Asia regions.
	The individual programmes are: Global Changemakers, Active Citizens, Global Exchange, Leadership in Community Development, Women at Work and the Springboard Programme. The total spend for these programmes in 2008-09 is forecasted at just over 2 million which constitutes 1 million of the British Council's Reconnect funding supplemented by additional funding from the British Council's grant in aid funding.

Colombia: Military Aid

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 30 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 40-2WS, on Colombia, what plans there are for future UK bilateral counter-narcotics assistance to the Colombian security forces.

Gillian Merron: We do not divulge the details of our counter-narcotics work in Colombia, including costs, because of the risk to the people concerned. The parliamentary ombudsman has upheld this approach.

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what the breakdown is of the costs incurred under each peacekeeping mission to which the UK is committed; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Based on our calculations, in 2008-09 we estimate that the UK's share of assessed costs to individual missions paid for from within conflict resources will be as follows:
	
		
			
			 UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) 18,297,738 
			 UN Operation in Cte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) 19,968,022 
			 UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) 49,272,772 
			 UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) 1,334,652 
			 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) 25,323,581 
			 UN African Union: UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) 64,197,346 
			 UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) 30,070,770 
			 UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) 1,392,357 
			 UN Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) 6,008,093 
			 UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) 1,462,365 
			 UN Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) 1,834,559 
			 UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 24,201,172 
			 UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) 7,480,504 
			 UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 28,307,578 
			 UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) 1,764,832 
			 UN International Criminal Court 5,463,876 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 5,403,725 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia 7,145,468 
			 UN/AU UN Logistical Support to African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) 1,960,880 
			 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe field missions 9,633,681 
			 EU Common Foreign and Security 15,100,000 
			 EU Force in Chad (EUFOR) 6,647,350 
			 EU NAVFOR Atalanta 340,466 
			 Total 332,611,787 
		
	
	We have budgeted for 456 million for assessed costs in 2009-10. As most of these costs are yet to be agreed in the relevant international forum, we do not yet have reliable estimates for individual missions.

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what estimate has been made of the effect on the costs to the Government of its commitments to international institutions caused by the fall in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The projected increase in the UK's assessed peacekeeping contributions in 2009-10 is the result of both an increase in peacekeeping activity international and the fall in the value of sterling against the US dollar and the euro.
	The impact of exchange rate changes in financial year 2008-09 has been partly offset by the effects of forward purchasing our foreign currency requirement.
	We have earmarked 456 million for assessed costs in 2009-10. However, this remains a projection as UN peacekeeping costs are still to be negotiated by the UN General Assembly for 2009-10, and future UN peacekeeping activity remains subject to decisions by the UN Security Council. We cannot provide an accurate estimate of the additional costs caused by the fall in the value of sterling rather than through the expansion of international peacekeeping missions until the budgets for each of the individual missions are agreed and payments made.

Conflict Prevention

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what proportion of the additional 71 million for conflict prevention, stabilisation and discretionary funding will be met by  (a) his Department,  (b) the Department for International Development and  (c) the Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Of the additional 71 million to be provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Department for International Development (DFID) for discretionary conflict activity (conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacekeeping), 15 million (21 per cent.) has been provided by the FCO, 22.5 million (32 per cent.) by the MOD and 33.5 million (47 per cent.) by DFID.

Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what the allocation for South Asia and Afghanistan was before the revision announced in the Statement.

David Miliband: The final budgets contained within the written ministerial statement are the original and only allocation figures for South Asia and Afghanistan for financial year 2009-10.
	South Asia and Afghanistan received 56.4 million in 2008-09 and has been allocated 61.3 million for 2009-10.

Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, what proportion of the additional 71 million to be provided for peacekeeping activities by his Department, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence will be drawn from his Department's budget.

David Miliband: Of the additional 71 million to be provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Department for International Development (DfID) for discretionary conflict activity (conflict prevention, stabilisation and peacekeeping), 15 million (21 per cent.) has been provided by the FCO, 22.5 million (32 per cent.) by the MOD and 33.5 million (47 per cent.) by DflD.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on economic situation, what expenditure was incurred under what budgetary headings his Department incurred on its seminar on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Africa Economic Outlook held in June 2008.

Gillian Merron: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Africa Economic Outlook seminar helps inform Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff about economic developments in Africa and is also a valuable part of the UK's extensive links with the OECD.
	The total cost of the seminar was 123.74, to provide refreshments for the participants and guest speakers from the OECD's Development Centre. This was met from the FCO's Global Economy Group's administrative budget.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its Global Economy Group internal seminar held in October 2008.

Caroline Flint: The lunchtime seminar on risks facing emerging market economies in the financial crisis cost 270.36. All costs were associated with catering provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's standard internal caterers.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its bi-annual conference for its economic officers held in December 2008.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Economic Officers conference is held bi-annually.
	The budget for this year's conference was set at 35,000 with 120 officials attending. The actual spend as of 30 March 2009 was 23,238 and final spend is expected to be within the budget.
	Two thirds of the budget for the conference was to provide a contribution to officials' airfares. The remainder was allocated to catering and audio equipment hire.

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-27W, on the economic situation, what the expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its seminar on Global economics crisis: challenges and opportunities for Europe held in Budapest in February.

Gillian Merron: The Department incurred a total expenditure of 1,464 for this seminar under the following budgetary headings:
	
		
			
			 Language Interpretation 315 
			 Conference Audio Visual Services 227 
			 Photographer 85 
			 Banners 38 
			 Graphic Design 136 
			 Stationery 663

Departmental Conferences

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 626-7W, on the economic situation, what expenditure under what budgetary headings was incurred by his Department in relation to its conference for climate and energy attachs held on 26 and 27 February 2009.

Caroline Flint: The conference held on 26 to 27 February 2009 succeeded in allowing our Diplomats based throughout the world to engage directly with policy makers in Whitehall, non-governmental organisations and key business stakeholders so as to improve their effectiveness in representing the UK overseas. Over 150 people attended this event which is held annually. Final costs are contingent on claims for subsistence some of which are yet to be received. But anticipated final costs break down as follows:
	
		
			   Anticipated final costs () 
			 Conference facilities including the hire of audio equipment and catering 7,587.75 
			 Cost of hotels and subsistence for delegates 26,683.75 
			 Cost of flights for delegates 19,119.34 
			 Total costs 53,390.84 
		
	
	Costs are incurred under the administration budget line for the global and economic issues directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 843-44W, on departmental public expenditure, from which budgets the additional funds required by overseas posts to maintain the purchasing power of their local budgets in 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be drawn; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The additional funds required by overseas posts to maintain the purchasing power, are allocated from the overall Foreign and Commonwealth Office's budget and supplemented by the benefits of forward purchase of foreign currencies.

Diplomatic Service: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 6 November 2006,  Official Report, column 843W, on the Diplomatic Service, what progress his Department has made towards its commitment in recruiting a talented and diverse workforce which reflects the society it serves at each pay band level.

Gillian Merron: The following table shows percentages of staff being paid via the FCO payroll split in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability and pay band.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  FCO pay band  As of 1 April 2006  As of 1 April 2007  As of 1 April 2008 
			  Band A
			 Female Staff 56.5 55.7 56.4 
			 Minority Ethnic 11.9 18 19.3 
			 Disabled 5.1 7.5 7.2 
			 
			  Band B
			 Female Staff 52 50.4 49.9 
			 Minority Ethnic 8.1 10.5 10.4 
			 Disabled 2.9 3.8 3.8 
			 
			  Band C
			 Female Staff 33.4 33.3 33 
			 Minority Ethnic 3.1 4.6 5 
			 Disabled 2.4 3.6 3.4 
			 
			  Band D
			 Female Staff 30.6 31.3 32.1 
			 Minority Ethnic 2.2 3.2 3 
			 Disabled 2.4 3.1 3.3 
			 
			  SMS
			 Female Staff 16.4 17.3 19.4 
			 Minority Ethnic 2 2.9 3.7 
			 Disabled 1.6 2.9 2.4 
		
	
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has developed a range of initiatives launched at various levels of the organisation in order to recruit a more talented and diverse work force.
	For example, since November 2006 we have implemented an undergraduate work experience programme designed to promote ethnic diversity and social inclusion, as well as taking part in Cabinet Office-led internships for students from ethnic minority backgrounds and for students with registered disabilities.
	Since September 2007 we have opened up all of our Senior Management Structure jobs to candidates from across Whitehall.
	In addition, in 2007 we organised an external recruitment campaign at Band D level, targeted at a diverse range of individuals from backgrounds outside of the FCO with the skills we require.

Iraq: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 17-19WS, on conflict resources 2009-10, how much of the planned expenditure in the Middle East in 2009-10 has been allocated to stabilisation activities in Iraq.

David Miliband: Of the 18 million assigned to the Middle East North Africa Programme for 2009-10, 13.1 million will be spent on stabilisation activities in Iraq.
	Stabilisation activities there will focus on support for security sector reform by building Iraqi police and judiciary capabilities in forensics and investigations techniques across the country; fostering economic growth, investment and job opportunities in the Basra region; developing the capacity of the Council of Representatives; and reconciliation initiatives.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 2 December 2008 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on Ms Margaret Harrison of Chelmsford.

Caroline Flint: My hon. Friend the Minister responsible for South East Asia replied to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford's (Mr. Burns) letter on 31 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter to him of 19 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mrs Amtar Rashid.

David Miliband: I replied to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton's letter on 5 April 2009.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to answer question 258643, on arms trade: exports, tabled on 24 February 2009.

Gillian Merron: This question was answered on 31 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1114W. The delay in replying was due to an administrative error.